| Female applicants and accepted applicants from Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency, the north- east and England applying for STEM courses | ||||
| Geographical area |
|
2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Notes to tables: 1. Includes applicants and accepted applicants to HE courses in FE colleges. 2. Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency has been identified using the home postcode regardless of declared area of permanent residence. Declared area of permanent residence has been used to identify the region and country. 3. STEM subjects have been identified using the following subject groups and lines: Group C: Biological Sciences; Group F: Physical Sciences; Group G: Mathematical and Computer Sciences; Group H: Engineering; Group J: Technologies; B1: Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology; B2: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy; B8: Medical Technology; and D7: Agricultural Sciences. Applicants included in this extraction have applied for at least one course from these STEM subjects. Source: UCAS | ||||
Higher Education: Foreign Investment in UK
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with higher education institutions on promoting inward investment; and if he will make a statement. [38709]
Mr Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills recognises the major contribution of the higher education sector to attracting high-quality inward investment to the UK. Ministers and officials regularly engage with higher education organisations on the topic of international activities and opportunities. On 1 February I addressed a Universities UK and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) supported conference on higher education opportunities in Europe.
UKTI’s R and D Partnerships programme is available free of charge to help organisations find the right UK academic or commercial partner for research and development collaborations.
UKTI also has a University Liaison Officer who interacts with universities at a senior level to promote international engagement. This includes the potential for collaboration with internationally focused companies for inward investment or export purposes.
Innovation: Manufacturing Industries
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications to become a technology and innovation centre focused on high value manufacturing the Technology Strategy Board has received. [38735]
Mr Willetts: The Technology Strategy Board has received 142 registrations of interest from organisations interested in forming all or part of the High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre.
Money Lenders: Interest Rates
Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on capping the level of interest rates charged by doorstep lenders. [39310]
Mr Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and HM Treasury are currently reviewing the consumer credit and personal insolvency regime. This is a thorough review of consumer credit and personal insolvency, looking at all the measures that could be taken to support people in difficulty and help them resolve their debts, including the impact of any interest rate cap on doorstep lending. A call for evidence made in connection with the review has recently closed and we are currently considering the substantial number of responses received.
The Government will make an announcement on next steps in the spring.
Students: Fees and Charges
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on tuition fees; and if he will make a statement. [39197]
Mr Willetts:
Since December, when Parliament approved maximum tuition charges for academic year 2012/13, we have received a number of representations on behalf
9 Feb 2011 : Column 309W
of students, universities and other organisations. We are considering these, as well as maintaining our regular contacts with bodies representing both institutions and students, as we move to finalise the higher education student support package.
Our next legislative steps to put the new system in place are through clauses in the Education Bill currently before Parliament. These will provide for the introduction of new, more progressive, interest rates on the repayment of student loans, and also allow us to regulate tuition charges for part-time courses, to which we will be extending loan support so that eligible part-time students will no longer have to pay for tuition up-front.
Supermarkets: Competition
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a food prices code adjudicator for the dairy industry. [38821]
Mr Davey: None. In August 2010, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills announced that the Government will establish the groceries code adjudicator to enforce the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP). The code covers the groceries supply chain, including the dairy sector, to large retailers. The Government have not considered a specific code of practice to cover food prices for the dairy industry.
UN Special Representative on Business: Human Rights
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the proposals to the UN by the UN Special Representative on business and human rights. [36538]
Mr Bellingham: I have been asked to reply.
The Government welcome the draft guiding principles developed by Professor Ruggie, the UN Special Representative on business and human rights. We believe they should offer a sure foundation for states and businesses to improve their performance with regard to human rights. The Government will consider in due course the impact of the draft principles on domestic legislation, policy practices for businesses operating in the UK and British businesses operating overseas, and implications for our foreign policy and international relations.
We have worked closely with Professor Ruggie as he refines the principles, following his consultations with businesses, states and civil society organisations. The guiding principles are due for consideration by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2011 and the UK will work to build consensus for their adoption. Further information on Professor Ruggie's work in his capacity as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Business and Human Rights is available at:
http://www.business-humanrights.org/SpecialRepPortal/Home
Universities
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on provisions by his Department to assist universities under financial pressures and at risk of closure. [39393]
9 Feb 2011 : Column 310W
Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) is under a legal duty to consider the financial health of those institutions it funds. HEFCE's internal Assurance Services are responsible for monitoring financial dealings with institutions and their overall financial health. It undertakes audit work in institutions and assesses institutional risk.
Where an institution is identified as at high risk they receive intensive expert support and financial assistance where appropriate. However, as they are autonomous institutions if a university does mismanage its affairs, we cannot offer a guarantee of protection.
Work and Pensions
Asbestos
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls the Health and Safety Executive's asbestos hotline number received (a) in each of the last five years and (b) in 2011 to date. [38439]
Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive does not have an asbestos hotline number. Access to general health and safety information is provided through its Infoline contact centre service.
In each of the last five years the number of calls received concerning asbestos was:
|
|
Number of calls received |
The numbers of calls are high in 2008 and 2009 when the Health and Safety Executive ran asbestos awareness campaigns.
For 2011 the total number of asbestos related calls received up to and including 1 February was:
|
|
Number of calls received |
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time inspectors are employed in the Health and Safety Executive's asbestos division; and how many he expects to be employed in that division in each of the next five years. [38440]
Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not have an ‘Asbestos Division' per se. However, relevant HSE inspectors are all appropriately trained and possess the necessary skills and competence to be able to deal with asbestos during any interventions they may undertake. Should specialist resource be required, this is also available within HSE.
Asbestos: Enforcement
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) prosecutions there were and (b) enforcement and prohibition notices were issued by the Health and Safety Executive regarding asbestos in each of the last five years. [38441]
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Chris Grayling: The number of prosecutions brought and completed by HSE for breaches of asbestos regulations in each of the last five years is as follows:
|
|
Prosecutions |
The number of enforcement (improvement and prohibition) notices issued by HSE for breaches of asbestos regulations in each of the last five years is:
|
|
Improvement notices | Prohibition notices | Total enforcement notices |
Asbestos: Publicity
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on the most recent phase of the Health and Safety Executive's Hidden Killer campaign. [38437]
Chris Grayling: The most recent phase of the Health and Safety Executive's Hidden Killer campaign ran throughout November and early December 2009, with a further activity in February 2010. The total cost of the activity was £1.78 million.
Activity included targeted radio and press advertising, PR activity, stakeholder activity, direct mail and online marketing.
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what mechanism the Health and Safety Executive monitored the effectiveness of the first two phases of its Hidden Killer campaign; and what the findings were. [38438]
Chris Grayling: The Health and Safety Executive advises Government on matters relating to worker safety and occupational illness. HSE's evidence is that asbestos is Britain's biggest industrial killer, responsible for an estimated 4,000 deaths per year. HSE's ‘Asbestos: Hidden Killer’ campaign was aimed at tradespeople such as plumbers, electricians and joiners who are the group currently at highest risk from exposure to potentially fatal asbestos fibres.
Evidence has been used to inform the Hidden Killer project from the start with independent researchers monitoring the effectiveness of all phases of the campaign.
Full details of the evaluation on both phases are available on HSE's website at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/hiddenkiller/finding-out-more.htm
Continental Research evaluated the first national wave of activity (February 2009); their results demonstrated the campaign achieved excellent recognition with 80%
9 Feb 2011 : Column 312W
of the target audience aware of publicity surrounding asbestos and 72% aware of specific elements of the press or radio adverts. Crucially 89% of the target audience agreed that the adverts were “aimed at someone like me” and over half of those who saw or heard the advertising claim to have taken more safety precautions when working with asbestos.
The second wave of national activity was evaluated by BMG Research and demonstrates further significant uplifts in already high levels of awareness surrounding the risk of asbestos (to 85%). The attitudinal response remained positive with significant uplifts in the proportion agreeing it is “aimed at someone like me” (to 93%) and that if “got me thinking about my exposure at work” (90%). Outcomes include that nine in 10 of those who recognise an element of the campaign report having taken, or planning to take, some action as a result.
Traffic to HSE's website has been monitored with a 600% increase on page requests compared to a similar period the year before.
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will (a) commission and (b) fund a public information campaign to warn construction workers of the dangers posed by asbestos following the cancellation of his Department's Hidden Killer campaign. [38442]
Chris Grayling: The ‘Hidden Killer’ campaign has not been cancelled. It is currently in a phase of assessment and evaluation to enable HSE to determine the way forward. The web pages, and other materials, are still accessible and available and additional elements are being actively considered by HSE for possible future delivery. The target audiences for any activity that emerges from this process will continue to include construction workers, especially trades such as plumbers, electricians, joiners, plasterers and decorators.
Atos Origin
Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of its contract with Atos Healthcare to carry out work capability assessments for employment and support allowance claims in each of the last two years. [37668]
Chris Grayling: The total cost of the DWP Medical Services contract with Atos Healthcare, a division of Atos Origin, is in the region of £100 million per annum. This estimate covers the total number of examinations undertaken across all benefits and also includes costs relating to written and verbal medical advice, fixed overheads, administrative costs, investment in new technology and other service improvements.
The total amount paid to Atos Healthcare by DWP for the scrutiny, face to face and work focused health related assessment reports was in:
2008-09: £1.7 million
2009-10: £24.4 million
These figures do not include costs relating to fixed overheads, administrative costs, investment in new technology and other service improvements.
9 Feb 2011 : Column 313W
Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty domestic boiler installation. [38362]
Chris Grayling: Legislation requires anyone who installs gas appliances to be on a statutory register. Gas Safe Register operates this registration scheme under an agreement with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Engineers must demonstrate their competence to join the scheme through the successful completion of independent assessments and are reassessed every five years. Gas Safe Register has over 80 inspectors who carry out risk based inspections of gas work by registered engineers and since the launch of the scheme on 1 April 2009 over 68,650 such inspections have been completed. Gas Safe Register also has a dedicated team who investigate those who carry out gas work but are not registered.
HSE takes enforcement action where breaches of gas safety legislation are identified and around 10% of the total offences prosecuted by HSE relate to gas safety. Since 1 April 2010 HSE has prosecuted 34 gas safety related cases and issued 148 enforcement notices.
HSE and Gas Safe Register also work to raise consumer awareness of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, through awareness raising promotions and media campaigns.
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to raise the level of awareness of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty domestic boiler installation. [38363]
Chris Grayling: The Government takes gas safety and awareness of carbon monoxide issues very seriously and provides significant information on websites and in published information. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises consumers to always use a Gas Safe registered engineer for all gas work in their home, including domestic boiler installation, and to ensure that any gas appliances are regularly serviced and maintained. Although not a substitute for the correct installation or maintenance of an appliance, HSE also strongly recommends the use of audible carbon monoxide alarms.
In April 2009 HSE launched the Gas Safe Register, the statutory registration scheme for gas engineers. The scheme has the strong focus of raising consumer awareness of gas safety risks and has undertaken significant campaigns, including national TV advertising, coverage on a wide variety of consumer programmes and national and regional press and radio, along with regional and community events. Research by the Gas Safe Register has shown that 81% of consumers are aware of gas safety risks and the Gas Safe Register.
HSE and Gas Safe Register continue to work to raise awareness of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, including focusing on vulnerable groups. The ‘Let's talk gas safety' campaign focused at the Over 65's has recently launched, involving close working with local ‘Age UK’ groups and this will be supplemented throughout the year with both general and targeted awareness raising promotions and ongoing media campaigns.
9 Feb 2011 : Column 314W
Carers' Benefits
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with carers' organisations on the proposed changes in carers' benefits; and if he will make a statement. [38166]
Maria Miller: The Government recognise that the United Kingdom's six million carers play an indispensable role in looking after family members or friends who need support.
We have had discussions with disabled people, their carers and a broad range of organisations from grass-root and user-led organisations to umbrella groups and national charities, including representatives of Carers UK, on a range of carer issues, including benefits.
The Government are currently considering whether changes to carer's allowance will be necessary to take account of the introduction of universal credit and provide clearer, more effective support for carers. We will continue to have ongoing discussions with a broad range of organisations to ensure carers get the personalised support they need with respect to their caring responsibilities, to have a normal family and community life, fulfil their educational and employment potential and maintain good health.
Child: Maintenance
Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many open cases including new claims were added to the Child Support Agency IT system in each of the last three years; and how many open cases were removed from the system in order to be administered manually in each such year. [37674]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many open cases including new claims were added to the Child Support Agency IT system in each of the last three years; and how many open cases were removed from the system in order to be administered clerically in each such year. [37674]
The table below shows the number of cases added to the CS2 computer system each quarter; the number of cases input onto the Agency Clerical Case Database each quarter and the overall live and assessed caseload each quarter.
| Quarter ending | Cases entered onto CS2 computer system | Cases entered onto clerical case database | Overall agency live and assessed caseload |
9 Feb 2011 : Column 315W
| Notes: 1. The number of cases added to the CS2 computer system differs from the new application intake figures that are published in the Quarterly Summary of Statistics. The new application intake figures include applications that may not have resulted in them becoming live cases entered on the CS2 computer system. 2. Cases entered onto the Clerical Case Database include cases that were initially entered onto the CS2 computer system as well as those entered directly onto the Clerical Case Database. | |||
Many cases that are progressed off system and entered onto the Agency’s Clerical Case Database are initially added to the CS2 computer system. In most cases where the case goes clerical we do not remove the case from CS2 and we do not track removals from CS2 as a result of going clerical. Some cases go straight onto the clerical case database directly either because they are linked to other clerical cases or because they encounter technical issues before they are fully created on the CS2 computer system.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many open cases there were with the Child Support Agency in each of the last three years; and how many such open cases were being administered (a) through the agency’s IT system and (b) manually. [37676]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many open cases there were with the Child Support Agency in each of the last three years; and how many such open cases were being administered (a) through the Agency’s IT system and (b) clerically. [37676]
The table below shows the volume of live and assessed cases administered by the Child Support Agency each quarter and of those cases, those administered on the Agency’s main IT systems as well as those administered off system and recorded on its Clerical Case Database.
9 Feb 2011 : Column 316W
Many of the cases administered off system have historic debt on the Agency’s main IT systems. These cases are included only under “administered clerically” in this table.
| Quarter ending | Overall agency live and assessed case load | Administered on agency Legacy IT systems | Administered clerically |
| Notes: 1. A split between cases administered on IT systems and those administered clerically can only be accurately reflected after March 2008. 2. The figures above showing the number of cases administered off system (clerically) differs from a total clerical case load data figure published in the QSS. The total clerical caseload figure in the QSS includes live and suspended cases. Not all of these form part of the agency live and assessed caseload figure which is also published in the QSS. | |||
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the findings were for Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's monitoring and evaluation of the use of deduction orders within child maintenance; what conclusions the Commission has reached regarding extension of the use of deduction orders to cover a non-resident parent's joint bank account; and if he will make a statement. [37936]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the findings were for Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's monitoring and evaluation of the use of deduction orders within child maintenance; what conclusions the Commission has reached regarding extension of the use of deduction orders to cover a non-resident parent's joint bank account; and if he will make a statement. [37936]
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission's monitoring and evaluation of the use of deduction orders, as a means of collecting child maintenance payments, has been completed. The final draft of the report has been reviewed and it is expected that the results will be published shortly.
Natascha Engel:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what proportion of child maintenance cases with an assessment and payment scheme was (a) 100 per cent., (b) less than 100 per cent. but more than
9 Feb 2011 : Column 317W
50 per cent.,
(c)
some but less than 50 per cent. and
(d)
none of the child maintenance due paid in each of the last five years. [37937]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what proportion of child maintenance cases with an assessment and payment scheme was (a) 100 per cent., (b) less than 100 per cent, but more than 50 per cent., (c) some but less than 50 per cent, and (d) none of the child maintenance due paid in each of the last five years. [37937]
The table below shows the proportion of cases with a positive liability where parents with care have received maintenance in full, the proportion that have received maintenance in part and the proportion of those that have not received any maintenance in each quarter for the past five years.
| Date | Percentage receiving maintenance in full | Percentage receiving maintenance in part | Percentage not receiving maintenance |
9 Feb 2011 : Column 318W
| Notes: 1. Cases are counted as having a positive maintenance outcome if they have received a payment via the collection service in the quarter or have a maintenance direct agreement in place. 2. Cases receiving maintenance in full includes cases which are fully compliant over the quarter, maintenance direct at the end of the quarter or where no maintenance has been requested in the quarter yet some maintenance was received. 3. Cases receiving maintenance in part includes those cases that have paid less than the requested amount each quarter. This will include cases that have paid in full but because of timing issues at the end of a quarter, the maintenance receipt has not been fully processed by quarter end. 4. Cases not receiving maintenance include cases with a maintenance liability that have not received any maintenance in the quarter. 5. Figures after March 2008 include the performance of cases administered off system. |
I regret that with currently available information it is not possible to answer accurately what proportion of cases paying something but not 100%,paid more or less than 50% of the child maintenance due. For this reason, information has not been provided. Work is currently underway to develop new performance measures that will allow us to answer this in the future.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Departmental Information Officers
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) press officers, (b) internal communications officers, (c) external communications officers, (d) communications strategy officers and (e) other positions with a communications remit were employed by (i) his Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) each other non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department on the most recent date for which figures are available. [38951]
Chris Grayling: The information is as follows:
| Department for Work and Pensions communications directorate | |
|
|
Number |
External communications and communications strategy officers are one and the same role in the DWP communications directorate.
Figures reflect only the number of officers in employment and are not indicative of the full-time equivalent figures (FTE). They also include those that are currently on leave (maternity, special, adoption etc.)
| Businesses | |
|
|
Number |
9 Feb 2011 : Column 319W
Non-departmental public bodies
Pensions Ombudsman/Pensions Protection Fund ombudsman: Nil response
The Pension Advisory Service: Nil response
Social Security Advisory Council: Nil response
|
|
Number |
Departmental Manpower
Mr McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff of his Department are employed on fixed-term contracts; and what the job title of each is. [38524]
Chris Grayling: The number of staff employed on a fixed term contract at 31 December 2010 is shown in the following table. For comparison purposes the figures represent both headcount and full-time equivalent staff. The Department does not hold details of job titles centrally. Departmental grades have been provided instead.
9 Feb 2011 : Column 320W
| Grade | Headcount | Full-time equivalent |
The Department's total staffing figure for the same period is 112,135 headcount which equates to 100,735 full-time equivalent staff.
Departmental Pay
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the number of sub-contracted staff servicing his Department who were not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage in the latest period for which figures are available. [34806]
Chris Grayling: We believe that there are 530 sub-contracted staff servicing the Department in London who are paid at a rate below the London living wage. These comprise 400 cleaners; 30 caterers and 100 providing general office services.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on hospitality since May 2010. [38527]
Chris Grayling: All expenditure on hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury Handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Expenditure on hospitality to December 2010 is less than £3,000.
The Department is reviewing all expenditure with a view to driving out efficiencies and delivering value for money for the taxpayer.
Mr McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on taxis since May 2010. [38529]
Chris Grayling: Expenditure on taxis since May 2010, has been reduced by 26% against the comparable period last year, as follows:
| Period | Expenditure (£) |
9 Feb 2011 : Column 321W
It should be noted that this expenditure includes, expenditure to allow access to work for staff with disabilities, to enable the DWP to meet its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act.
The total expenditure set out above needs to be seen in the context of a Department with over 100,000 staff based in over 900 locations throughout Great Britain.
The Department is reviewing all expenditure with a view to driving out inefficiencies and delivering value for money for the taxpayer.
Disability Living Allowance
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people (a) in each age group, (b) of each sex, (c) with each disability and (d) in total receive an automatic entitlement to disability living allowance. [39358]
Maria Miller: The total number of people receiving DLA as a result of a specific condition under which they are deemed to satisfy conditions of entitlement is 55,660.
9 Feb 2011 : Column 322W
This figure is broken down by condition, gender and age group as requested, in the tables.
The definitions of each condition are included within the following regulations; which can be found in the House Library:
For terminally ill, the rules are primarily contained in section 72(5) for care component; and section 73(12) for mobility component of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. There are minor provisions relating to the terminally ill in regulations 2(4), 10(6) and 12B(9A)of the Disability Living Allowance Regulations 1991.
For Severely Mentally Impaired, double amputee, deaf blind and haemodialysis, the primary powers are 73(3), 73(1), 73(2) and 72(7) respectively of the Contribution and Benefits Act 1992.
The conditions are defined in the Disability Living Allowance Regulations 1991 as follows:
Severely mentally impaired—Regulation 12(5)&(6)
Double amputee—Regulation 12(1 )(b)
Deaf/Blind—Regulation 12(2)&(3)
Haemodialysis—Regulation 7
| Total disability living allowance recipients by primary disabling condition (1) and age, May 2010 Great Britain | |||||||||||||
| Automatic entitlement condition | All | Not known | Under 16 | 16-17 | 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85-89 | 90+ |
| Disability living allowance recipients by primary disabling condition (1) and age, May 2010 Great Britain. males | |||||||||||||
| Automatic entitlement condition | All | Not known | Under 16 | 16-17 | 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85-89 | 90+ |
| Disability living allowance recipients by primary disabling condition (1) and age, May 2010 Great Britain. females | |||||||||||||
| Automatic entitlement condition | All | Not known | Under 16 | 16-17 | 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75-84 | 85-89 | 90+ |
9 Feb 2011 : Column 323W
9 Feb 2011 : Column 324W
| (1) In published breakdowns by disabling condition, normal practice is to reallocate terminally ill cases to their underlying medical condition (usually malignant disease). As this question specifically asks about automatic entitlement of which terminal illness makes up the largest group, this reallocation has not been done in this case. Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. A primary disabling condition of terminally ill, severely mentally impaired, double amputee, deaf/blind or haemodialysis qualifies an individual for automatic entitlement to disability living allowance. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 100% WPLS | |||||||||||||
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people (a) in each age group, (b) of each sex, (c) with each disability and (d) in total in receipt of disability living allowance state on their application that they had had the illness or disability for between three and six months. [39359]
Maria Miller: The information requested is not recorded by the Pensions Disability and Carers Service and is therefore not available.
Customers are asked on the disability living allowance claim form when their help with getting around outdoors or personal care needs first started. This is because there is no entitlement to the mobility or care components respectively, unless a period of three months has elapsed during which the conditions of entitlement to one or both of these components is satisfied. This qualifying period is in place to ensure the benefit is received by people with longer term disabilities and not those incapacitated for a short time.
Information on whether a claimant has an illness or disability for between three and six months is not relevant for the purposes of the current assessment and so is not recorded.
Disability Living Allowance: Mobility
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in receipt of disability living allowance who use aids and adaptations to improve their mobility. [39357]
Maria Miller: Information about aids and adaptations is requested on the disability living allowance claim form, however this information may relate to either the care or mobility component or both components.
This information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Employment and Support Allowance
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average frequency with which an approved healthcare professional’s advice to a decision maker determining eligibility for employment and support allowance differs from that of the customer’s doctor in the latest period for which figures are available. [37869]
Chris Grayling: The information is not held. The approved health care professional provides advice to the decision maker in relation to the eligibility criteria for ESA. The customer’s doctor provides medical evidence, usually in the form of a statement of fitness to work, but this does not relate to the eligibility criteria for ESA. It is therefore not possible to make any comparison between advice from the health care professional and medical evidence from the customer’s doctor.
Health and Safety: Heating
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints the Health and Safety Executive received from employees about heat in the workplace in the latest period for which figures are available. [39703]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Housing Benefit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local authority housing benefit staff he expects to transfer into his Department under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 rules; and when he expects such transfers to take place. [38684]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions will be responsible for organising the delivery of universal credit. We have not yet finalised the detail and therefore the impact on organisations currently delivering benefits that universal credit will replace. In respect of housing, we are working closely with local authorities and the housing sector as our plans develop.
Incapacity Benefit
Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the relationship between the incidence of emergency hospital admissions and the number of (a) incapacity benefit claimants and (b) unemployed people in an area. [38726]
Maria Miller: The Department has not assessed the relationship between the incidence of emergency hospital admissions and the number of incapacity benefits claimants nor unemployed people. We also have no plans to do so.
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Industrial Health and Safety
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the causes were of fatal accidents in the workplace in each of the last five years. [39305]
Chris Grayling:
Notifications of workplace fatal injuries occurring in Great Britain are made under RIDDOR—the
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Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. The following table provides a breakdown of fatal injuries to workers and members of the public, by the kind of accident recorded for the incident. The data cover the period 2005-06 to 2009-10.
| Fatal injuries to workers and members of the public, 2005-06 to 2009-10 (1) | |||||
| Kind of accident | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 (1) |
| (1) Provisional. (2) Physical injuries resulting from acts of violence suffered by people at work are reportable under RIDDOR, but physical injuries resulting from acts of violence suffered by members of the public are not. Note: Further background is detailed in the ‘Special Points’ section. | |||||
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Minimum Wage
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects on the self-employed of assuming income at the national minimum wage for the purposes of assessing entitlement to universal credit. [37754]
Chris Grayling: The self-employed, like other employees, will benefit from improved incentives in universal credit to increase their working hours and earnings. At the same time, once established in work, we would expect them to see a reasonable income from their activity and become less reliant on benefits.
The impact of a minimum floor of assumed income in universal credit will depend on the manner and circumstances in which it is applied. We are still exploring these issues and are therefore unable to provide an assessment of its likely effects at this stage.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Madeline Marsh) of 30 November 2010, Official Report, column 795W, on mortgages: Government assistance, what representations his Department has received from mortgage lenders on their ability to (a) freeze the mortgage accounts of claimants of support for mortgage interest and (b) apply a standard interest rate for a fixed period; and if he will make a statement. [31351]
Steve Webb: We have spoken to the Council of Mortgage Lenders and also to lenders themselves. The Council recently wrote to Ministers with their views. We will consider this, along with other representations, as we continue to look at a number of options for reform of support for homeowners.
Pensions
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average additional basic state pension entitlement is for a (a) woman and (b) man retiring in 2011. [39360]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the following table.
| Average amount of weekly state second pension/state earnings related pension scheme for new claimants at state pension age | |
| £ cash terms | |
|
|
March 2011 |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1. 2. Award relates to the average weekly amount of state second pension/state earnings related pension scheme in payment to someone claiming at state pension age in a particular year, and exclude those above state pension age receiving a deferred claim. 3. Figures do not include graduated retirement benefit. | |
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average forecast basic state pension entitlement is for a (a) woman and (b) man retiring in 2018. [39361]
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Steve Webb: The available information is in the following table:
| Table 1: Average amount of weekly Basic State Pension for new claimants at State Pension age (£, cash terms) as at March 2018 | |
|
|
£ |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1. 2. Award relates to the average weekly amount of Basic State Pension in payment to someone claiming Basic State Pension at State Pension age in a particular year. They exclude those above State Pension age receiving a deferred claim. 3. Figures do not include Graduated Retirement Benefit. 4. Figures include claimants living overseas. | |
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the average forecast basic state pension entitlement is for a (a) woman and (b) man retiring in 2016; [39362]
(2) what the average forecast basic state pension entitlement is for a (a) woman and (b) man retiring in 2011. [39363]
Steve Webb: The information available is in the following table.
| Average amount of weekly basic state pension for new claimants at state pension age | ||
| £ cash terms | ||
|
|
March 2011 | March 2016 |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1. 2. Award relates to the average weekly amount of basic state pension in payment to someone claiming basic state pension at state pension age in a particular year. They exclude those above state pension age receiving a deferred claim. 3. Figures do not include graduated retirement benefit. | ||
Asbestos: Publicity
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding previously allocated to the Health and Safety Executive's Hidden Killer campaign has been reallocated to fund redundancies. [38600]
Chris Grayling: I can confirm that no funds have reallocated from HSE's communications budget to fund redundancies. HSE is currently assessing progress on the Hidden Killer campaign to date, with materials and information still available online. Tackling asbestos-related disease remains a priority for HSE in our communications activity and enforcement work.
Social Security Benefits
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the (a) reduction in the number of (i) claimants and (ii) benefit spending, (b) additional administrative cost and (c) overall change in the level of revenue to the Exchequer of completing a new work capability assessment in respect of employment and support allowance every (A) year and (B) two years. [38673]
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Chris Grayling: A key factor in determining eligibility for employment and support allowance is the work capability assessment (WCA). The WCAs are carried out by health care professionals employed by Atos Healthcare. Claimants attend regular WCAs, based on the prognosis given by the health care professional at their original, or last assessment—at intervals which vary from a minimum of 3 months and maximum of two years, dependant on the nature of the individual’s condition. This ensures that people are in the correct group and receiving the right support as their capabilities change.
The information requested is not available and could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many decisions on benefit appeals by customers in north east Scotland were outstanding (a) prior to the reassessment trial and (b) at the end of the trial period. [37630]
Chris Grayling: The latest available data show that, as at September 2010, the total number of benefit appeals held for Scotland is 22,631, of which 13,846 relate to employment and support allowance and incapacity benefit. Information on appeals is not available at individual area level.
Figures for the IB reassessment trial are not available as the trial is still under way. It is too early to provide information on the numbers of customers who have asked to appeal against their decision as not all customers have completed their reassessment. Initial information on the trial outcomes and evaluation will be made available to customer representative groups and other stakeholders at the end of the month.
Social Security Benefits: Osteoarthritis
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency successfully claimed benefits for osteoarthritis in each of the last five years. [39366]
Maria Miller: The information requested is contained in the following tables.
| Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance (IB/SDA) and employment support allowance (ESA) recipients in Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency with a diagnosis of 'Other Arthritis' at the dates shown | |||||
| As at May each year | |||||
|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10(th) Revision, published by the World Health Organisation. 3. 'Osteoarthritis' diagnosis is included within the category of 'Other Arthritis'. 4. Incapacity benefit was replaced by employment support allowance (ESA) from October 2008. 5. ESA figures by diagnosis are only available from February 2010. 6. Prior to May 2010 the Westminster parliamentary constituencies for 2005 have been used. Source: DWP Information Directorate 100% WPLS | |||||
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| Disability living allowance (DLA) recipients in Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency with a diagnosis of 'Arthritis' at the dates shown | |||||
| As at May each year | |||||
|
|
2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Notes: 1. DLA figures are from 5% sample data uprated to 100% proportions. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. The preferred statistics on benefits are now derived from 100% data sources. However, the 5% sample data still provides some detail not yet available from the 100% data sources, in particular, more complete information on the disabling condition of DLA claimants. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5% sample data, or disabling condition (DLA) is required, the proportions derived should be scaled up to the overall 100% total for the benefit. These figures have been scaled up to the overall total, by the application of a single rating factor therefore subtotals based on uprated 5% data may differ from 100% data because of sampling variation in the 5% sample. 3. Caseload totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 4. 'Osteoarthritis' diagnosis is included within the category of 'Arthritis'. 5. A diagnosed medical condition does not mean that someone is automatically entitled to DLA. Entitlement is dependent on an assessment of how much help someone needs with personal care and/or mobility because of their disability. 6. Prior to May 2010 the Westminster parliamentary constituencies for 2005 have been used. Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate | |||||