Affordable Housing: Construction
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new social home builds he expects to be started in (a) Gateshead local authority, (b) Tyne and Wear and (c) England in each year of the spending review period. [33202]
Andrew Stunell:
In the spending review we announced almost £4.5 billion investment in new affordable housing to deliver up to 150,000 affordable homes. We are giving housing associations much more flexibility on rents and use of assets thus increasing their financial capacity, so our aspiration is to deliver as many as homes as possible
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through our investment and reforms. The number of homes started and delivered in each year will be dependent on agreements between housing associations and the Homes and Communities Agency, in consultation with local authorities.
Affordable Housing: Mortgages
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to allow those who purchased their home through the Homebuy scheme to apply for assistance under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme. [33520]
Andrew Stunell: The Government's Mortgage Rescue Scheme aims to help vulnerable homeowners who are at risk of repossession to remain in their home. This includes Homebuy purchasers who bought their home with the assistance of an equity loan. Eligible applicants are homeowners with dependent children, elderly and vulnerable groups who cannot afford their mortgage payments and who would be legally entitled to homelessness assistance if repossessed. Applicants for the scheme are considered by local authorities as part of their homelessness prevention duties.
Homebuy purchasers who buy on a shared ownership basis are not eligible for assistance under the Mortgage Rescue Scheme because they already have additional protections through the support offered by housing associations, including flexible tenure arrangements under which their housing association landlord may buy back some or all of the shared owner's equity. Housing associations may reinvest capital grant to provide flexible tenure and, if this is not available, apply to the Homes
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and Communities Agency for funding on a case by case basis in order to assist a shared owner who meets the eligibility criteria for the national scheme.
Fire Services: Finance
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his estimate is of the likely average change in the budgets of fire and rescue services in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [33022]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government is responsible for distributing central Government funding across the fire and rescue service in England. However individual fire and rescue authority budgets are made up of a number of elements in addition to central Government funding and all fire and rescue authority budgets are set by the individual authority, not by Government.
Fire Services: Manpower
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many whole-time firefighters were employed by (a) the London Fire Brigade and (b) each metropolitan fire authority in each year since 1996. [34204]
Robert Neill: The numbers of whole-time firefighters employed by (a) the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and (b) each metropolitan fire authority in each year since 1996 are shown in the following table.
| Whole - time firefighters (full- time equivalent) in metropolitan fire authorities, 1996 to 2010 | |||||||
| At 31 March (1) : | London FEPA | Greater Manchester | Merseyside | South Yorkshire | Tyne and Wear | West Midlands | West Yorkshire |
| (1) Data for 1996 to 1998 at 1 January. Source: Annual Returns to DCLG | |||||||
Fire Services: Tyne and Wear
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons the proposed budget reductions for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service are twice the national average for fire and rescue service budget reductions. [33717]
Robert Neill: It is the responsibility of local authorities, including Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to determine their budget, taking into account the amount of Government grant that they will receive and the income that they can raise.
Green Belt
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what his policy is on the future of the green belt; [34193]
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(2) what steps his Department is taking to protect the green belt in England. [34194]
Robert Neill: In the coalition agreement the Government committed themselves to maintaining the green belt. National planning policy on green belt is currently set out in PPG2 (Planning Policy Guidance Note 2, “Green Belts”), which establishes a presumption against inappropriate development on green belt land. Green belt prevents urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open. Local planning authorities must have regard to PPG2 when plan-making or deciding planning proposals affecting green belt.
In December we announced the start of work to create a National Planning Policy Framework. As part of this process, we will consider how best to update green belt policy. The abolition of Regional Strategies via the Localism Bill will help protect the green belt by removing top-down directives to review or weaken green belt protection in over 30 towns and areas across England.
Local Government Finance
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was provided to each local authority in Supporting People Grant in the financial year 2010-11; and how much he plans to allocate to each local authority from that grant in the financial year 2011-12. [33066]
Robert Neill: In distributing the 2010-11 Supporting People allocations via Area Based Grant, the allocations to local authorities were damped to ensure that no authority received a large cut year-on-year. The damped 2010-11 allocations by local authority can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/xls/153658811.xls
Since Supporting People was one of the services transferred into formula grant from 2011-12 it is no longer damped separately but instead is included in the damping applied to total formula grant which also ensures that no authority receives a large cut year-on-year on a like-for-like basis. For this reason, and due to the fact that formula grant is an unhypothecated block grant, it is not possible to say how much grant has been provided to each local authority after floor damping for supporting people. The spending review has secured £6.5 billion of investment in supporting people over the next four years.
Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to enable local government capital receipts to be used for revenue functions in 2011-12. [33761]
Robert Neill: The use of capital receipts by local government for revenue purposes is capitalisation. Whether it is through borrowing or use of capital receipts, capitalisation counts as public spending, and has implications for the wider economy and national deficit reduction. As such it is strictly controlled and subject to an application process.
As announced in the spending review, there will be £200 million of capitalisation available in 2011-12, and the Government intend to issue full guidance in February.
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Local Government Finance: Gateshead
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from Gateshead local authority following the provisional Local Government Finance settlement. [33203]
Robert Neill: I have not, as of 12 January 2011, received a representation from Gateshead council on the provisional Local Government Finance settlement for 2011-12. The consultation period on the settlement ends on 17 January 2011.
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment he has made of the effects of the proposed reduction in formula grant funding for local authorities on Gateshead local authority; [33204]
(2) what assessment he has made of the likely effects of his Department's funding levels for local authorities on the community and voluntary sector in Gateshead. [33206]
Robert Neill: Spending decisions are, and will continue to be, a matter for local authorities, and we do not intend to place restrictions on any decisions they might make on funding, including grants to the voluntary sector. We do not expect authorities to respond to reductions in their budgets by passing on disproportionate cuts to other service providers, especially the voluntary sector.
Measures to be taken in the Localism Bill will establish new rights for voluntary and community groups to deliver local services. The Government have also created a Transition Fund that will support the voluntary and community sector during the first year of the spending review and have made available a transition grant of £85 million in 2012-13 and £14 million in 2012-13 to protect those authorities most in need.
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the overall reduction in formula grant funding for Gateshead local authority over the spending review period is expected to fall in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13. [33205]
Robert Neill: Details of the provisional local government finance settlements for 2011-12 and 2012-13 can be found at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/grant.htm
Details of spending review departmental settlements are available on the Treasury website at:
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/spend_index.htm
Non-domestic Rates
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities collected more in non-domestic rates than they retained to be spent locally in 2009-10; and what net contribution each such local authority made to the Exchequer in 2009-10. [33007]
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Robert Neill: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Corby (Ms Bagshawe) on 6 December 2010, Official Report, column 57W.
Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of the reduction of the empty property rates threshold on the business sector. [33609] [Official Report, 26 January 2011, Vol. 522, c. 1MC.]
Robert Neill: This Government recognise the problems caused by the previous Government’s reforms of empty property rates.
Our ability to take action on this needs to be balanced against the costs involved, the targeted support that we have already provided on business rates and the overriding need to reduce public expenditure and support the economy generally by reducing the deficit.
We therefore have no immediate plans to reverse the reforms, and taking the above matters into consideration, the empty property rate threshold will revert to £2,600 from 1 April 2011. We will, however, certainly keep this matter under review.
No assessment has been made of the effect of the reduction of the empty property rates threshold on the business centre sector.
As I outlined in my written statement of 13 December 2010, Official Report, columns 61-62WS, it would cost £400 million to continue with the temporary empty rates measure, which unfortunately is not fiscally sustainable given the public finances that the new Government have inherited from the last Administration.
Planning
Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to strengthen planning enforcement in relation to unauthorised development. [33800]
Robert Neill: The Government take the problem of unauthorised development seriously. The Localism Bill, introduced to Parliament on 13 December, includes provisions aimed at strengthening local planning authorities' powers to tackle the problem. A revised enforcement policy will be included in the National Planning Policy Framework and consulted on in due course.
Sure Start Programme: Hammersmith and Fulham
Mr Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what communications his Department has had with Hammersmith and Fulham council on Sure Start programmes since the date of the announcement of the provisional local government finance settlement for 2011-12. [33738]
Robert Neill: The Department holds no record of communications with representatives of London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham on Sure Start programmes since the provisional local government finance settlement was announced on 13 December 2010.
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Wind Power: Planning Permission
Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department issues to local planning authorities on (a) distances from residential properties and (b) preservation of open land in relation to wind turbines; and if he will make a statement. [33834]
Robert Neill: Current planning policy for renewable energy is supported by a practice guide. The guide provides advice on how to implement the planning policy and avoid unacceptable impacts from wind turbines, including on residential property and open land. In doing so, the guidance provides advice on safe separation distances between wind turbines and occupied property and how to assess landscape and visual impacts.
Prime Minister
Banks: Incentives
John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister on which occasions he has discussed with the chief executives of (a) Royal Bank of Scotland Group, (b) Lloyds Banking Group and (c) Barclays (i) the bonuses paid to their staff and (ii) their personal bonus since 1 December 2010. [34025]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the list of official meetings by Ministers with external organisations which is published on a quarterly basis, in accordance with the Ministerial Code. I also refer the hon. Member to the press briefing given by my official spokesman on 12 January 2011. A copy of the transcript is available on the No. 10 website
http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/press-briefings/2011/01/morning-press-briefing-from-12-ianuary-2011-58711
Departmental Press Releases
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions his office has provided embargoed media briefings prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010; in respect of how many such briefings his office was informed that the embargo had been breached; what steps were taken as a result of each such breach; and on how many occasions his office has provided media briefings without an embargo prior to an oral statement to the House since 26 May 2010. [31926]
The Prime Minister: On 15 June 2010 I made a statement in relation to the publication of the Bloody Sunday report. With the agreement of the Speaker and under strictly controlled conditions, accredited media representatives were allowed advance sight of the report one hour before the oral statement. The embargo was not breached.
Local Government
Jon Trickett: To ask the Prime Minister which (a) meetings and (b) other events have been held at Downing street for local authority leaders and councillors and which have been attended by councillors and hon. Members since the general election. [33825]
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The Prime Minister: Information on official and charity receptions held at 10 Downing street is published by means of an annual list as soon as it is ready at the end of the financial year.
Leader of the House
Grand Committee System
Mr Offord: To ask the Leader of the House whether he has assessed the value for money of the Grand Committee system of the House. [33440]
Sir George Young: I have made no such assessment.
Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority Committee
Speaker’s Committee
Sir John Stanley: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, on what dates the Speaker's Committee on the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has met; and what the date is of its next meeting. [33332]
Mr Charles Walker: The Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority met on 30 June, 5 July, 6 July and 12 July 2010, as required by the statute in order to consider IPSA's draft estimate for 2010-11. No date has yet been announced for its next meeting, but the process for consideration of the 2011-12 draft estimate is expected to commence shortly.
Work and Pensions
Capita
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many contracts his Department has with Capita; and how much it has paid to Capita under such contracts in 2010-11 to date. [18622]
Chris Grayling: I apologise for the delay in replying.
The Department for Work and Pensions has seven contracts with the Capita plc Group of companies. The contract descriptions and their actual spend in the financial year 1 April to 31 December 2010 are shown in the following table.
| Contract name | Spend (£) |
|
Principal Civil Service Pensions and Senior Level Recruitment |
|
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Spend for April to December 2010-11 when compared to the same period last year has reduced by over 30% across these contracts and we continue to scrutinise all departmental expenditure with a view to driving out inefficiencies and delivering value for money for the taxpayer.
Council Tax Benefits
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the likely change in the level of (a) in-work and (b) child poverty in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) Northern Ireland, (iv) England and (v) the UK consequent on local authorities having discretion over levels of council tax benefit. [34042]
Steve Webb: We are still in the process of finalising decisions on the future of council tax benefit, including how it will be delivered. We will publish an impact assessment for the proposed changes to council tax benefit in the normal way, accompanying the relevant legislation when introduced in Parliament.
Crisis Loans
Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many crisis loans his Department has issued to residents of (a) North West Durham constituency, (b) the North East and (c) England in the last 12 months. [32952]
Steve Webb: The information available is as follows:
| Initial crisis loan awards made from January to December 2010 | |
|
|
Number |
| Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using official/national statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as official/national statistics and there are some issues with the data; for example, the numbers given do not include awards processed clerically which had not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. The number of initial crisis loan awards is not available by constituency, but only by Government office region or Jobcentre Plus social fund budget area. 3. The North East has been interpreted as the Government office region of that name. 4. Numbers are for initial awards only and do not include awards made after review. 5. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest ten. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System. | |
Employment Schemes: Further Education
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals Jobcentre Plus referred to a further education college for education and training in each region in each of the last five years. [32914]
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Chris Grayling: This information is not available. Jobcentre Plus refers customers in England to Skills Funding Agency funded providers. Some of these are colleges and some of these are private sector providers, but Jobcentre Plus can not disaggregate referral data between college and non-college providers.
Employment Schemes: Watford
Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Watford who have taken part in jobseekers’ schemes delivered for his Department by Kennedy-Scott Ltd have found permanent employment since 2005. [34164]
Chris Grayling: We hold data on paid outcomes (not individuals) for contract package areas going back to 2007. We are unable to provide data in the form requested.
Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department paid to Kennedy-Scott Ltd for the delivery of jobseekers’ schemes in Watford in each year since 2005. [34165]
Chris Grayling: Information on spending in support of Welfare to Work programmes at a local level would be available only at a disproportionate cost. Our spending with Kennedy-Scott Ltd on Welfare to Work programmes on a national basis in each financial year since 2004-05 is provided in the following table.
| Supplier: Kennedy-Scott Ltd | |
|
|
Spend (£) |
Fuel Poverty
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will discuss with the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland emergency measures to reduce fuel poverty in households as a result of recent extreme cold temperatures; and if he will make a statement. [33619]
Steve Webb: The Government remain committed to doing all that is reasonably practicable to help eradicate fuel poverty and we are currently considering the ways in which we can make further progress towards our 2016 (2018 in Wales) fuel poverty target.
The cold weather payment scheme provides financial support for the most vulnerable during periods of exceptionally cold weather. So far this winter we have provided over £440 million of support across the UK through the scheme. In addition, this Government have made permanent the previously temporary increase to £25 in the weekly cold weather payment amount.
The Government have also made a commitment to protect financial support provided via the winter fuel payment, which makes a significant contribution towards
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winter fuel bills. For winter 2010-11, individuals who have reached women's state pension age will receive this payment worth £250 for households with someone aged up to 79, and £400 for households with someone aged 80 or over. Each winter we spend around £2.7 billion on more than 12 million payments.
My Department works closely with other Government Departments on this issue and has regular discussions with other Ministers.
Funeral Payments
Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what financial support his Department provides to terminally-ill people without an estate, next of kin or life insurance to assist in making funeral arrangements. [27322]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
We do not provide any financial support to people who wish to make their own funeral arrangements.
The social fund funeral payment scheme provides a contribution towards the costs of a simple, respectful low-cost funeral. This payment is available to people who receive income-related benefits and tax credits (or the partners of such people) who take responsibility for the funeral of a close relative or close friend.
Headaches
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to reduce the number of working days lost due to headaches and migraines. [31482]
Paul Burstow: I have been asked to reply.
Most headaches are harmless and can be relieved with self-help measures and pharmacy painkillers. Only a few (around 5%) are a sign that something is seriously wrong. These more serious headaches are often accompanied by other warning signs.
The key to reducing the number of working days lost to headaches and migraines is ensuring that patients are able to access help and support from a general practitioner, or migraine clinic, to effectively manage their condition.
Housing Benefit
Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in housing benefit to individuals in (a) Northumberland county and (b) the UK in each of the last five years. [23041]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
The information requested can be found in the following table. DWP only covers Great Britain, figures for which are supplied below. Spending in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.
| Housing benefit expenditure, nominal terms | ||
| £ million | ||
|
|
Great Britain | Northumberland county |
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| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest million. 2. Housing benefit expenditure tables can also be found at the following URL: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page= hbandctb_expenditure Source: Local Authority Subsidy Returns. | ||
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to support the direct payment of housing benefit to private landlords. [31515]
Steve Webb: We continue to support the principle that tenants in the private rented sector should be responsible for managing their rental payments. There are safeguards in place so that housing benefit can be paid to the landlord if the tenant is unable or unlikely to pay their rent. Benefit is also paid direct to the landlord if the tenant is in arrears by eight weeks' rent.
From April 2011 we are widening local authority discretion to pay housing benefit direct to the landlord only if it would help the customer secure a new tenancy or remain in their current home at a reduced rent. We will work closely with local authorities to ensure this provision is used in very specific circumstances where landlords are reducing rents to a level that is affordable for customers.
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local housing allowance claims where the claimant was (a) in work and on non-passported benefits, (b) not working and on non-passported benefit, (c) in receipt of income-based jobseeker's allowance, (d) in receipt of income-related jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance and (e) in receipt of pension guarantee credit in each local authority area over the reference period for his Department's impact assessment on local housing allowance. [31808]
Steve Webb [holding answer 20 December 2010]: I apologise for the delay in replying.
A copy of the information has been placed in the Library.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to exempt families with children from his proposed reduction in housing benefit for people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for more than one year. [33300]
Steve Webb: We are carefully considering the impact on benefit customers as we develop the detailed policy for introduction of this measure in the Welfare Reform Bill. People for whom jobseeker's allowance is not appropriate, including lone parent families with very young children aged less than five, will not be affected.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people in (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) the Wirral borough council area, (c) the North West and (d) the UK are in receipt of housing benefit; [33866]
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(2) how many people in (a) Wallasey constituency, (b) the Wirral borough council area, (c) the North West and (d) the UK are in receipt of housing benefit and have been claiming jobseeker's allowance for 12 months or more. [33867]
Steve Webb: Information is not available for those housing benefit recipients who also have JSA nor is the information available by constituency.
The data we have are shown in the following table:
| Housing benefit recipients September 2010 | |
|
|
Total HB recipients |
| Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 3. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and September 2010 are the latest available. 4. Housing benefit caseload and average weekly amounts are available at local authority area level and these are published on the Department's website at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/hbctb.asp 5. At present geographic breakdowns are available at local authority or regional level, as data are provided by local authorities. | |
Housing Benefit: Expenditure
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the change in his Department's expenditure on housing benefit attributable to rent reductions in the 12 months following the implementation of his reforms to housing benefit. [26090]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
The information is not available.
Housing benefit expenditure has risen from £11 billion in 2000-01 to an expected £21.5 billion in 2010-11 in cash terms.
The package of measures announced in the June Budget and being introduced for the local housing allowance in 2011-12, including the removal of the £15 excess planned by the previous Administration, will achieve savings of around £1 billion by 2015-16. The other changes to housing benefit announced in the June Budget are estimated to save a further £1.1 billion in 2015-16. Overall, this represents a reduction of 9% in the total 2015-16 expenditure on housing benefit.
Housing Benefit: Kilmarnock
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who are (a) not of working age, (b) in work and (c) not in work are in receipt of housing benefit in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency. [17128]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
The information requested is not available at the constituency level.
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From February 2007, DWP has been collecting more detailed housing benefit/council tax benefit data electronically from local authorities. Over time this will improve the accuracy, timeliness and level of detail available in the published statistics, as the information supplied is quality assured.
Housing benefit caseload and average weekly amounts are available at local authority area level and these are published on the Department's website at:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/hbctb.asp
At present geographic breakdowns are available only for local authorities and regions. However, an exercise is being undertaken to add other geographical areas to the data, including parliamentary constituencies.
Housing Benefit: Liverpool
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit claimants in (a) Liverpool, Wavertree constituency and (b) Liverpool receive a weekly excess of £15 or less. [31778]
Steve Webb: The Department published a document on 'Impacts of Housing Benefit proposals: Changes to the Local Housing Allowance to be introduced in 2011-12' on 23 July. Based on this analysis, in March 2010, around 6,320 housing benefit recipients on the local housing allowance in Liverpool local authority receive a weekly excess of £15 or lower and will be affected by the removal of the excess.
This information is not available at constituency level.
Housing Benefit: Pensioners
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate has been made of the number of pensioners whose income is likely to fall below the 60 per cent. median poverty line as a result of the (a) proposed weekly cap on housing benefit and (b) up-rating of housing benefit with reference to the consumer price index. [18601]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
The information is not available in the format requested.
On 23 July, the Department published a document on “Impacts of Housing Benefit proposals: Changes to the Local Housing Allowance” to be introduced in 2011-12, which includes detailed analysis of the impacts of the June Budget measures. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library.
Housing Benefit: Personnel
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of local authority staff employed to administer (a) housing and (b) council tax benefit. [25035]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that 20,000 local authority staff work on housing benefit and council tax benefit. The processing of these benefits is largely combined and therefore we do not have an estimate of the number of staff working on each benefit.
However, these individuals may have many other functions, depending on how local authorities choose
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to organise their staff. The Department holds no estimate of the proportion of time these workers spend administering these benefits. To develop one would be an enormous undertaking and incur disproportionate cost.
Housing Benefit: Poverty
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood of 3 November 2011, Official Report, columns 820-1W, on housing benefit: poverty, if he will place in the Library a copy of the initial assessment of the effects on child poverty of his Department's planned changes to housing benefit. [33400]
Steve Webb: The initial assessment of the effects on child poverty of the housing benefit reforms showed that over the next three years there is no measurable impact of the emergency Budget HB reforms on relative child poverty rates.
This analysis will be provided to the House of Commons Library but it should be noted that the impact of the housing benefit measures should not be considered in isolation of the wider package of measures that have been announced, in particular the extra money distributed to families with children through the tax credit system.
Housing Benefit: St Albans
Mrs Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in housing benefit to individuals in the St Albans district council area in each year from 1996-97 to 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. [23301]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
The information requested can be found in the following table.
| St Albans | |
|
|
HB expenditure nominal terms (£ million) |
| Source: Local Authority Subsidy Returns | |
Housing benefit expenditure tables can be found at the following URL:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page= hbandctb_expenditure
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Housing Benefit: Sunderland
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid on average in (a) local housing allowance and (b) housing benefit to recipients in each type of housing tenure in Sunderland Central constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available. [30364]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
At present geographic breakdowns are only available for local authorities and regions. However, an exercise is being undertaken to add other geographical areas to the data, including parliamentary constituencies.
Housing Benefit: Unemployed People
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of recipients of jobseeker's allowance receive housing benefit. [29024]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.
Information is collected on the number of claimants in receipt of a passported benefit, however this information has not yet been quality assured to National Statistics standard.
From February 2007, DWP has been collecting more detailed housing benefit and council tax benefit data electronically from local authorities. Over time this will improve the accuracy, timeliness and level of detail available in the published statistics.
Income Support: Mortgages
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of recipients of Support for Mortgage Interest who receive less in support than the amount of mortgage interest they pay as a result of the recent reduction in the interest rate at which payment is made; and if he will make a statement. [20991]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
This information is not available because the Department does not collect management information on the actual interest rates that apply to support for mortgage interest customers' loans.
Industrial Health and Safety: EU Law
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to implement the recommendation in Lord Young's report on health and safety that the UK should take the lead in co-operating with other member states to ensure the EU health and safety rules for low risk businesses are not overly prescriptive, are proportionate and do not attempt to achieve the elimination of all risk. [31512]
Chris Grayling:
The Government very much welcome Lord Young's recommendation in this area and I, with support from the Health and Safety Executive, will take it forward. The UK continues to be supportive of the opinion of the European Commission's High-Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative
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Burdens, which has proposed an exemption for 'very small firms undertaking certain low risk activities' from the requirement to possess a record of the risk assessment. The European Commission is undertaking an evaluation of the costs and benefits of this requirement, with which the UK will be closely involved.
Jobcentre Plus: Greater London
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the running cost was of each Jobcentre Plus service in each Jobcentre in the London borough of (a) Barnet, (b) Islington, (c) Bromley, (d) Lewisham, (e) Lambeth, (f) Brent, (g) Ealing, (h) Hammersmith and Fulham and (i) Hounslow in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [33639]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking what the running cost was of each Jobcentre Plus service in each Jobcentre in the London Borough of (a) Barnet (b) Islington (c) Bromley (d) Lewisham (e) Lambeth (f) Brent (g) Ealing (h) Hammersmith and Fulham and (i) Hounslow in the last 12 months for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The running costs for the Jobcentre Plus staff based at the specified 27 sites for the year 2009/10 are listed in the table in Annex 1. These include both salary costs and associated discretionary spend. In the interests of transparency estimates of the costs for the Jobcentre Plus staff at these 27 sites for year to date 30th November 2010 have also been obtained, but has not been formally reported or subject to audit review.
Jobcentre Plus is an agency of the Department for Work and Pensions and many costs are reported outside of Jobcentre Plus at the Department level. The totals in Annex 1 do not, therefore, include charges from DWP for elements such as estate costs, information technology services costs or other items handled at a Departmental level.
| Annex 1: Running costs for selected Jobcentre Plus sites | |||
| London borough | Jobcentre | Running cost (£) 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 | Estimated cost (£) 1 April 2010 to 30 November 2010 |
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| Source data: Oracle Financial Analyser (OFA) | |||
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost per square metre was of each of the Jobcentre premises in the London borough of (a) Barnet, (b) Islington, (c) Bromley, (d) Lewisham, (e) Lambeth, (f) Brent, (g) Ealing, (h) Hammersmith and Fulham and (i) Hounslow in 2009-10. [33640]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the cost per square metre was of each of the Jobcentre premises in the London Borough of (a) Barnet (b) Islington (c) Bromley (d) Lewisham (e) Lambeth (f) Brent (g) Ealing (h) Hammersmith and Fulham and (i) Hounslow in 2009-10. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
The facility unit cost which includes the service accommodation costs per square metre of the specified 27 sites for the year 2009/10 are listed below in the following table:
| Cost per square metre 2009-10 | |
|
|
Cost per m (2) (£) |
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| Source: DWP Commercial Directorate Estates Charging Database | |
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has made a recent assessment of the merits of reviewing the two-year national insurance assessment period in respect of contributions-based jobseeker's allowance; and whether he has made a recent assessment of the effects of that arrangement on mature graduate students who have taken a career break to study. [33148]
Chris Grayling: The contribution conditions for jobseeker's allowance were reviewed in 2010, resulting in the Social Security (Contribution Conditions for Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance) Regulations 2010/2446, which came into effect on 1 November 2010.
Those regulations broadly aligned the contribution conditions for jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance, strengthening the connection between recent employment and contributory benefits, and making the system fairer and simpler.
A person who fails to meet the contribution conditions may be eligible for income-based jobseeker's allowance.
Dr Whitehead:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) each region in England were in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in the latest period for
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which figures are available; and how many of these in each category were in receipt of housing benefit in the same period. [33838]
Steve Webb: The following table provides the number of people in (a) the UK, (b) each region of England, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales who are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance.
The information on jobseeker's allowance claimants also in receipt of housing benefit is not available. Information is collected on the number of housing benefit claimants in receipt of a passporting benefit, which includes income-based jobseeker's allowance. However, the total number of jobseeker's allowance claimants receiving housing benefit is not available.
| Government office region | Caseload |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. United Kingdom figures include Northern Ireland. 3. These figures are published at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/Default.asp Source: NOMIS Claimant Count (Seasonally Adjusted), November 2010. | |
Life Expectancy
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the (i) life expectancy and (ii) healthy and disability-free life expectancy of people in each social cohort. [19469]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
Data published by the Office for National Statistics constitute the Department's main source of information on life expectancy and on healthy and disability-free life expectancy. To help evaluate improvements in life expectancy of people in each social cohort, the Department has commissioned the Office for National Statistics to produce from its Longitudinal Study detailed life tables covering the periods from 1977-81 to 2002-05.
These data will be published as part of the Government's full response to the review of state pension age. Copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
Members: Correspondence
Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 30 September 2010, reference AR/TS/305. [33768]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member.
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A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 13 January 2011.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he made of the monetary value of support for mortgage interest payments made to claimants in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency in each of the last five years. [17125]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
The information is as follows:
| Average weekly payments of support for mortgage interest in Kilmarnock and Loudoun, February 2006 to February 2010 | |||
| £ | |||
| February | Income support | Jobseeker’s allowance | Pension credit |
| (1) Nil or negligible claimants receiving jobseeker’s allowance, so average amounts not included for these customers. Notes: 1. Average weekly amounts are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny. 2. Figures have been up-rated using 5% proportions against 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) totals. 3. For jobseekers allowance mortgage interest can be claimed only on income-based jobseeker’s allowance. 4. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003. 5. Monthly figures are not available therefore the last four quarters data have been provided. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% samples. | |||
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency received support for mortgage interest payments in each of the last five years. [17126]
Steve Webb: I apologise for the delay in replying.
The information is as follows:
| Number of support for mortgage interest claimants in Kilmarnock and Loudoun, February 2006 to February 2010 | |||
| Number | |||
| February | Income support | Jobseeker’s allowance | Pension credit |
| (1) Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide. (2 )Nil or negligible claimants receiving jobseeker’s allowance. Notes: 1. Figures rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Figures have been up-rated using 5% proportions against 100% Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) totals. 3. For jobseeker’s allowance mortgage interest can be claimed only on income-based jobseeker’s allowance. 4. Pension credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced minimum income guarantee (income support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the minimum income guarantee transferred to pension credit in October 2003. 5. Monthly figures are not available therefore the last four quarters data have been provided. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5% samples. | |||
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Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2010, Official Report, columns 167-8W, on mortgages: Government assistance, what progress he has made on exploring the scope for mortgage lenders to freeze benefit claimants' mortgage accounts and apply a standard interest rate for a fixed period; and if he will make a statement. [33340]
Steve Webb: We are continuing to look at a number of options for support for mortgage interest, including assessing the scope for mortgage lenders to freeze benefit claimants' mortgage accounts. There are a number of possible solutions, and it will take time to reach a sensible conclusion on the long-term future design of support for homeowners.
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 167W, on mortgages: Government assistance, when he expects to publish the results of the model to estimate the effects of changes to support for mortgage interest on the number of repossessions; and for what purposes his Department plans to utilise this model. [33341]
Steve Webb: The Department is in the process of developing a model to estimate the impact of changes to Support for Mortgage Interest on the number of repossessions. However, any estimates will always be limited since detailed case-by-case information, such as arrears at the start of a claim, is not collected by the Department. Furthermore, the relationship between arrears and continued home ownership is a complex one dependent on more than the level of Support for Mortgage Interest payable.
The Department intends to use this model for internal policy development, appraisal and evaluation, but we will consider whether the results are robust enough to be used publicly, and the findings placed in the Library, once this work is complete, which we would expect to be in spring 2011.
Pensioners: Poverty
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners living in poverty in each year from 2011 to 2020. [34027]
Steve Webb: The Department does not publish projections on pensioner poverty and has not produced long-term trend estimates of pensioner poverty that take full account of current and announced policies.
The Government have restored the earnings link for the basic state pension with a triple guarantee that the basic state pension will increase by the highest of the growth in average earnings, prices (as measured by the consumer prices index) or 2.5%. We estimate this will mean that the average person reaching state pension age in 2011 will receive an additional £15,000 in basic state pension over their retirement than they would have done under the old prices link.
The Government are protecting key benefits for pensioners. Free eye tests; free prescription charges; free bus passes; free television licences for the over 75s; and
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winter fuel payments will remain exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government—as we promised. We have also made the temporary increase in the cold weather payment to £25 permanent.
We want to ensure that older people receive the help that they are entitled to, and we are conducting a research study into the feasibility of using existing data to help to improve the take-up of pension credit.
We will help prevent people from falling into poverty in later life by simplifying the rules and regulations relating to pensions to help reinvigorate occupational pensions. We will encourage companies to offer high-quality pensions to all employees and, from October 2012, all employers will be required to automatically enrol their eligible workers into a qualifying workplace pension scheme. We expect this to radically increase the number of people saving into a pension and lead to between 4 million and 8 million people newly saving or saving more in all forms of workplace pension schemes.
All these changes will have a positive impact on pensioners' incomes.
Pensions
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the change in lifetime pension incomes of retired households in each income decile that will result from his Department's plans to accelerate the increase in the age at which (a) people become entitled to guarantee credit and (b) women become entitled to the basic state pension. [33394]
Steve Webb: The information required is not available in the form requested on a household basis.
The impact assessment published as part of the White Paper ‘A sustainable State Pension: when the State Pension age will increase to 66’ included information on the proportionate change in lifetime pension income for hypothetical high, median and low earning individual men and women resulting from the increase in state pension age and pension credit qualifying age.
Poverty: EU Action
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department is making on the determination of (a) targets and (b) indicators to measure its contribution to the EU strategy against poverty. [33468]
Chris Grayling: As part of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable growth EU Heads agreed in June 2010 to a number of EU level targets, including “promoting social inclusion, in particular through the reduction of poverty, by aiming to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion”. The at-risk population is defined as the number of persons who are at risk of poverty and exclusion according to three indicators:
at risk of poverty, defined as those falling below 60% of national median income;
material deprivation, defined as those missing four out of nine items from a specified list; or
living in a jobless household, i.e., all adults in the household are working for less than 20% of available time.
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These headline indicators, as well as a number of subsidiary indicators, are published by Eurostat. Both the target and the indicators are EU-wide and progress will be aggregated across all 27 member states.
In contributing to the EU ambition, member states are free to set their own national targets on the basis of the most appropriate indicators, taking account of their national circumstances and priorities. The UK contribution will be:
The proportion of children living in workless households; and
The Child Poverty Act Commitment to ending child poverty by 2020.
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress he has made on the implementation in the UK of the EU strategy against poverty. [33469]
Chris Grayling: There is no top-down EU strategy against poverty. Rather the UK has, along with all other member states, decided its own national strategy which will contribute to the overall EU 2020 poverty strategy. The UK has decided to target the proportion of children living in workless households in conjunction with achieving the aims of the Child Poverty Act 2010, which requires that the child poverty rate is among the best in Europe by the year 2020.
The Government are now considering the report on poverty and life chances by the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) and will respond to the report in the Child Poverty Strategy. The report makes recommendations about measures that the Government will need to explore before deciding its preferred way forward, along with all the other issues that the strategy will cover. It did not suggest abandoning the 2020 targets and the Government's commitment to eradicating child poverty by 2020 has not diminished.
The UK will be providing details of its strategy for contributing to the EU-wide target on poverty and social exclusion in the National Reform Programme which will be submitted to Commission in April 2011.
Remploy: Bonuses
Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been paid in bonuses to the (a) senior management and (b) directors of Remploy in each year since 2008. [30892]
Maria Miller [holding answer 14 December 2010]: The available information on bonuses paid to Remploy senior management and directors is detailed in the following table:
| Financial year | Managers | Directors | Total (£) |
| Note: Figures for 2008-09 and 2009-10 have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. Source: Remploy | |||
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Retirement: Age
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has in respect of changes to the age of retirement for those who started their working lives at the age of 14 years. [33686]
Steve Webb: The school leaving age was raised to 15 in 1947 and to 16 from September 1972. Therefore no one with a school leaving age of 14 is affected by either the current or proposed changes to state pension age.
The changes we have announced, to bring forward the timing of the increase in state pension age to 66, will affect people born between April 1953 and April 1960. These changes are necessary to keep the state pension system sustainable and fair to each generation as average life expectancy increases.
Social Security Benefits
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which categories of households will be exempt from the household benefit cap to be implemented in 2013. [29025]
Steve Webb: The cap will only apply to working age households. There will be an exemption for war widows and households with a member entitled to disability living allowance or working tax credit.
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that digitisation of the benefits system does not disadvantage older claimants. [33288]
Steve Webb: We are always seeking to improve accessibility of our communications and services which means that increasingly we make use of digital media. We recognise, however, that older people in particular make less use of the internet, so we will ensure that our plans do not introduce inequality and disadvantage, and cater for the needs of older people. We will continue to consult customers, and work closely with organisations which represent them, as we develop new services and processes to ensure that we continue to meet their needs.
In addition, the Pensions Disability and Carers Service and Jobcentre Plus commitments to Race Online 2012 recognise that we need to support customers to help them take advantage of online services. Through projects like Get Digital, which seeks to help people in sheltered housing get online, and by working closely with key partner organisations like the BBC and Digital Unite to support their initiatives such as First Click and Silver Surfer's Day, we are helping to provide older people with the skills and access to IT that will enable them to use digital services if they wish.
State Retirement Pensions: Payments
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the potential savings to the public purse of the payment of pensions one week in arrears. [33670]
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Steve Webb: State pension has been paid in arrears to people reaching state pension age on or after 6 April 2010. Payments can be made four weekly, fortnightly or weekly. Payments to existing pensioners were unaffected. No estimate has been made of potential savings arising from this change. We expect that the change to payment in arrears will be cost-effective in the longer term because it makes it more likely that the Department can action any necessary changes before a payment is issued, thus reducing the number of overpayments and in particular reducing the distress which may be caused when overpayments are made following a death.
Travel to Interview
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce guidance to ensure that the travel costs of attending job interviews by those who are out of work and who were previously self-employed are met by potential employers. [33804]
Chris Grayling: For people receiving a qualifying benefit discretionary help with expenses for attending job interviews is available through the Travel to Interview Scheme (TIS) administered by Jobcentre Plus (JCP). Payment under TIS in respect of these costs is subject to certain conditions including whether or not there is a reasonable prospect of employment and the prospective employer itself will reimburse the travel costs. Reimbursement by employers is a matter for them.
Universal Credit
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to include child tax credit and childcare tax credit within his proposed universal credit. [33299]
Chris Grayling: We announced in the White Paper ‘Universal Credit: Welfare That Works’ that we will include fixed amounts within universal credit to cover children's living costs, based on those currently provided through child tax credit. They will be additional to child benefit.
As promised in the White Paper, we are working with key stakeholders to establish how support for child care costs could best be delivered as part of, or alongside, universal credit. We continue to work on this and will set out our conclusions in the coming months.
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2011, Official Report, columns 137-8W, on universal credit, whether his calculation of the marginal reduction rate before full implementation of universal credit includes the 20 per cent. council tax benefit taper. [34254]
Chris Grayling: All analysis presented to date includes the 20% council tax benefit taper when calculating marginal deduction rates in the current tax and benefit system. It has also been assumed for modelling purposes that council tax benefit is included within the universal credit and is subject to the single overall taper of 65% when calculating marginal deduction rates under universal credit.
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The Government's recent announcement that they would give local authorities more say on the administration of council tax benefit will have implications for universal credit. As stated in the recent White Paper ‘Universal Credit: Welfare That Works’, the Government will work closely with local government and the devolved Administrations to develop the details of the proposal and to ensure that this reform does not undermine the positive impact of universal credit on work incentives.
Welfare State: Reform
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department plans to publish the draft regulations for the proposed Welfare Reform Bill. [33650]
Chris Grayling: We will shortly introduce the Welfare Reform Bill. Additional information on the regulation making powers included in the Bill will be made available in the Delegated Powers Memorandum which will be published alongside the Welfare Reform Bill on introduction.
Deputy Prime Minister
Childhood and Families Taskforce
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many meetings of the Childhood and Families Taskforce have taken place; who attended each meeting; and what was discussed on each occasion; [32853]
(2) what work has been completed by the Childhood and Families Taskforce; and if he will make a statement. [32854]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The work of the Childhood and Families Taskforce is ongoing. Any work completed by the taskforce will be announced by Government in the usual manner.
It is longstanding Government practice not to disclose information relating to ministerial meetings, including the proceedings of Cabinet and Cabinet committees, as to do so would put at risk the public interest in the full and frank discussion of policy by Ministers.
Constituencies
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals to amend the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975 to lower the limit on the number of Government Ministers in line with his proposed reduction in the number of parliamentary constituencies. [33068]
Mr Harper:
The Government have been clear that they recognise the principle that there is a link between the legislature and the size of the Executive; but this issue does not need to be resolved now, since the reduction in the size of the House of Commons would not take effect until 2015. The Government intend to reflect on the arguments made during the passage of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, and set out their plans once there is greater clarity on the composition of the second Chamber, including how
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many Ministers would be drawn from there. The Government remains committed to strengthening Parliament in relation to the Executive.
House of Commons: Reform
Mr Offord: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the prospects for the political and constitutional reforms proposed in the coalition agreement; and if he will make a statement. [32745]
Mr Harper: The political and constitutional reforms proposed in the coalition agreement are proceeding apace.
The Government have introduced several of the Bills which were foreshadowed in the coalition agreement. This includes the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill and the Scotland Bill, which gives effect to proposals from the Calman Commission. The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, to introduce a referendum on using the Alternative Vote for elections to this House, as well as fewer and more equal sized constituencies, has been passed by the House of Commons. We have introduced the Localism Bill which will devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities more control over housing and planning decisions, and the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill, which will among other matters introduce elected police commissioners.
The Government have also implemented recommendations of the Committee on Reform of the House of Commons, including the establishment of a Backbench Business Committee and facilitating the election of chairs and members of Select Committees. Parliament has approved the regulations necessary for the referendum on further devolution in Wales, which will take place on 3 March 2011.
This year the Government will set out their plans in more areas, including publishing legislation in draft on the recall of MPs, on speeding up the move to individual electoral registration, and on the reform of the House of Lords, and consulting on a statutory register of lobbyists.
Mr Offord: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the effects on levels of public expenditure of implementation of his proposals to reduce the size of the House of Commons to 600. [32747]
Mr Harper: We estimate that the total cost of the next boundary reviews in each part of the UK will be £11.2 million. This includes the costs of staffing, accommodation, IT, printing, production of maps, advertising and publishing the final reports. Under the terms of the legislation presently in force, (Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986), and on the basis of the duration of the fifth general review in each part of the UK, we estimate that a general review would commence in any event within the next three years in England and in Scotland; and in the next five years in Wales and in Northern Ireland. The total cost of the fifth reviews in each part of the UK was £13.6 million.
We estimate (subject to decisions made by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority) that 50 fewer MPs would result in a saving of £12.2 million
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annually, made up of reduced salary costs of £4.1 million and £8.1 million in reduced expenditure on MPs’ expenses.
House of Lords: Reform
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made on developing proposals for a wholly or mainly elected second Chamber. [33656]
Mr Harper: The cross-party Committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, is considering proposals for a wholly or mainly elected second Chamber. We will publish a draft Bill early this year. The Bill will then be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by, we hope, a joint committee of both Houses.
Mental Health Act 1983
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review the operation of section 141 of the Mental Health Act 1983. [33991]
Mr Harper: The Government are considering the operation of section 141 of the Mental Health Act 1983, and hope to make an announcement shortly.
Parliament: Reform
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the potential saving to the public purse of his plans to reduce the size of the House of Commons; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of increasing the size of the House of Lords. [33704]
Mr Harper: We estimate (subject to decisions made by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority) that 50 fewer MPs would result in a saving of £12.2 million annually, made up of reduced salary costs of £4.1 million and £8.1 million in reduced expenditure on MPs' expenses.
The cross-party Committee on House of Lords reform, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, is considering the size of a reformed second chamber and other issues which will determine the overall cost. The Government will publish an estimate of the costs alongside a draft Bill early this year.
Urban Areas
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the result of the city status competition will be announced. [33664]
Mr Harper: The result of the competition for a grant of city status to mark HM the Queen's diamond jubilee will be announced in the early months of jubilee year, 2012.
Voting Rights: Offenders
Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward proposals to give judges discretion to determine at the point of sentencing whether offenders sentenced to a custodial term have the right to vote while in custody; and if he will make a statement. [33614]
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Mr Harper: As I announced by written ministerial statement on 20 December 2010, Official Report, columns 150-151WS, the Government intend to implement the Hirst judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in a way that meets our legal obligations, but does not go further than that.
The Government's proposed legislation will provide that offenders sentenced to a custodial sentence of four years or more will lose the right to vote in all circumstances, reflecting the seriousness of the offence that resulted in their imprisonment.
Additionally, the sentencing judge will be able to remove the right to vote from offenders sentenced to a custodial sentence of less than four years if they consider that appropriate. We are considering what criteria judges should apply when exercising their discretion in such cases.