Research
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on each research and development programme it funded other than through the research councils and the Higher Education Funding Council for England in each year since 2007; and what plans he has for funding each of these programmes in future years. [102616]
Mr Willetts: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and its delivery partners have provided the following funding for R&D programmes (excluding those delivered by the Research Councils and Higher Education Funding Council for England) in each year since 2007:
| £000 | |||||
| Scheme | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 (estimated) |
| (1) Delivered by the Technology Strategy Board from April 2011. Previously delivered by the Regional Development Agencies. | |||||
Collaborative R&D, Smart and Eurostars are supported by the Technology Strategy Board which will receive core funding of approximately £300 million pa in the current spending review period. While the Technology Strategy Board will continue to fund R&D activities in future years, it makes its own decisions on an annual basis regarding the level of investment in each programme based on spending priorities.
The Environmental Transformation Fund aimed to encourage the development of low-carbon energy and energy efficiency technologies in the UK. This Fund is now closed and monies are no longer available to be allocated, with various other policies and sources of funding available to support these technologies. The funds noted in the table above were provided by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills for projects co-funded with the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
The Regional Growth Fund is a £2.4 billion fund operating across England from 2011 to 2015. It supports projects and programmes, including research and development programmes, that lever private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment. Research projects have the opportunity to bid for Regional Growth Fund support under Round 3 of the fund which is currently open until 13 June 2012.
The Energy Technologies Institute is funded 50:50 by the Government and Industry Members who, as the Energy Technologies Institute's Executive Board, decide which projects are commissioned and how funds are awarded. There are currently six Core Industry Members who each commit up to £5 million per annum, matched by the UK Government. The Energy Technologies Institute's current estimates for future R&D spend are as follows:
| £ million | |
Research: EU Grants and Loans
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of UK science research funding comes from the Sixth European Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. [102593]
Mr Willetts: The overall funding levels and distribution for the Seventh Framework Programme were agreed in negotiations which were concluded before it was launched in 2007. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has therefore not had any discussions on this subject.
18 Apr 2012 : Column 385W
Students: Finance
Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how much student financial support of each loan, grant or allowance type was overpaid to students by Student Finance England due to administrative error in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 to date; [102746]
(2) how many students were overpaid student financial support by Student Finance England due to administrative error in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 to date; [102747]
(3) how many students were overpaid student financial support, excluding child care grants, by Student Finance England (SFE) due to administrative error by SFE in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12; [102925]
(4) how many students were overpaid student financial support by Student Finance England (a) including and (b) excluding child care grants for any reason in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12; [102562]
(5) how much of each type of student financial support was overpaid to students by Student Finance England for any reason in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 to date. [102563]
Mr Willetts: Data on grant overpayments are held by the Student Loans Company (SLC). SLC do not hold a record of grant overpayments by individual grant type on any electronic database. This is due to grants being paid together in one sum, and no separate record is kept of how much relates to each individual type of grant awarded. The information can not be split by reason for overpayment.
There are various circumstances that can result in a student's entitlement to a grant being reassessed, which may result in a grant overpayment, such as:
Over-estimation of obligations/under-estimation of income for dependants' grants by student.
Under-estimation of income for current year income assessments by student.
Withdrawals/suspensions from course.
Change of circumstances.
Incorrect assessments.
Grants are paid to students based upon the latest information available to SLC. Overpayment generally occurs when the SLC receive information from a student or their higher education institution (HEI) to advise one or more of the above circumstances have changed, which leads to the grant amount being reassessed.
Figures for grant overpayments are as follows:
| Students overpaid grants and amount overpaid 2009/10 to 2011/12 (provisional) | ||
| Academic year | Students overpaid | Amount overpaid (£) |
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| (1) Figures for 2011/12 are provisional Notes: 1. Data as at 31 March 2012 2. Includes maintenance grants, HE and tuition fee grants (available for entrants prior to 2006/07 only), disabled students allowance, adult dependants grant, parents learning allowance, childcare grant and travel grant. Source: Student Loans Company (SLC) |
Prior to 2010/11, assessments were not made of maintenance loan overpayments, as any overpayments made would be recouped through HMRC when the borrower began to repay their loan. From 2010/11 maintenance loans are reassessed by SLC when a student in receipt of a maintenance loan is identified as having withdrawn from or suspended their course. An assessment is then made to ascertain if the student loan has been overpaid.
Figures for maintenance loan overpayments due to course withdrawals and suspensions are as follows:
| Students overpaid loans and amount overpaid 2010/11 and 2011/12 (provisional) | ||
| Academic year | Students overpaid | Amount overpaid (£) |
| (1) Figures for 2011/12 are provisional Note: Data as at 13 April 2012 Source: Student Loans Company (SLC) | ||
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether secondary legislation will be required to implement the introduction of loans for further education students aged 24 years and over; and when he expects to publish any such legislation. [103398]
Mr Hayes: Regulations will be required to introduce loans for further education, in the same way that regulations are required for the higher education student support system.
We plan to lay these regulations before Parliament in July 2012, following the publication of the final impact assessment of loans in further education in May 2012. This is in advance of the launch of the loans applications system at the end of March 2013, for courses starting from September 2013.
Education
Departmental Responsibilities
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) when he intends to publish quarterly information on meetings attended and gifts received by Ministers and special advisers in his Department for (a) July to September 2011 and (b) October to December 2011; [102179]
(2) when he intends to publish details of (a) his and (b) his special advisers' meetings with senior representatives of media organisations since July 2011. [102180]
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Tim Loughton: The departmental quarterly information for July to September 2011 has now been published and can be viewed at the following two pages:
www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/transparency/b0065263/ministers-quarterly-returns/july-2011-to-september-2011
www.education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/departmentalinformation/transparency/a0065912/special-advisers-quarterly-returns
Information for October to December 2011 is currently being collated and will be published in due course.
Work and Pensions
Child Support Agency
Dame Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average administrative cost is of each case for the Child Support Agency. [95222]
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, what the average administrative cost is of each case for the Child Support Agency. [95222]
The Commission's Annual Report and Accounts for 2010/11 reported the cost of a case managed on the main computer systems as being around £350 a year, with a case managed off the main computer systems at £600 per year.
There is considerable variation from these averages at an individual case level. The cost of processing cases can vary considerably depending on the amount of enforcement action and intervention required and the method of processing. For example, Maintenance Direct cases with little or no ongoing CSA involvement once the assessment has been completed cost less to administer.
At the other end of the scale there are cases, both compliant and non-compliant, where it is necessary for the CSA to undertake the most time-consuming and expensive enforcement action. For example, in 2010/11 the CSA was granted a full order for sale in 70 cases to secure maintenance with a cost of up to £10,000 per case for that action. A recent case that required such an extreme level of enforcement activity cost the CSA around £40,000 over its 18-year lifetime.
The £25,000 figure designed to provide an .illustration of how much a typical case requiring the sort of activity outlined below might cost to manage, if it lasted 18 years, from birth to adulthood. This figure is drawn from the estimated cost to the CSA of managing an actual case over 19 months, during which time more than 50 hours staff time was devoted to managing the case, including time spent on the telephone to both parents, tracing and speaking to the non-resident parent's employer, the calculation of four separate maintenance assessments reflecting changes in his financial circumstances and dealing with a complaint by the parent with care through their Member of Parliament. Additional costs were incurred through the setting up of a Deduction from Earnings Order and instructing bailiffs when the case fell into arrears.
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The estimated operational cost to the CSA over the 19 month period was nearly £2,000 which, if extrapolated to 18 years, would come to around £22,500. This figure has been rounded up to reflect the fact that costs in respect of other areas of the business, including central directorates and related operational areas, have not been included. The figure also does not take account of the cost of management time.
Child Maintenance
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether parents with care who are owed arrears of maintenance and who choose to transfer to the future child support scheme will be notified at the point of transfer as to the amount of the arrears which the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission considers collectable and which will be transferred to the future scheme for collection. [102647]
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, whether parents with care who are owed arrears of maintenance and who choose to transfer to the future child support scheme will be notified at the point of transfer as to the amount of the arrears which the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission considers collectable and which will be transferred to the future scheme for collection. [102647]
A parent with care will continue to be owed arrears when their existing case with the Child Support Agency is closed—this is regardless of whether they make an application to the new statutory maintenance scheme, and as such it will remain incumbent on the statutory maintenance scheme to pursue them whenever it is reasonable to do so. Parents with care will be kept informed of any action on their case and any arrears owed to them.
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of new applications to the Child Support Agency has the applicant been a parent with care, or the partner of someone, in receipt of income-related benefits in the last 12 months. [102652]
Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance arid 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, what proportion of new applications to the Child Support Agency has the applicant been a parent with care or the partner of someone in receipt of income-related benefits in the last 12 months. [102652]
18 Apr 2012 : Column 389W
Benefit information is available up to May 2011. In the year to May 2011, 29% of new applications to the Child Support Agency involved a parent with care or their partner who was in receipt of Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance.
This analysis has been conducted by checking all new applications to the Child Support Agency in the 12 months to May 2011 and matching this data with the Department for Work and Pensions National Benefit Database. This gives information to whether a parent with care (PWC) or non-resident parent (NRP) is, or is not on benefit. It should be noted that 14% of all new applications in the 12 months to May 2011 did not appear on this database, so the benefit status of the PWC could not be determined.
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of Child Support Agency assessed cases with a positive liability involve (a) parents with care in receipt of income-related benefits, (b) non-resident parents in receipt of income-related benefits and (c) cases where both parents are in receipt of income-related benefits. [102728]
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, what proportion of Child Support Agency assessed cases with a positive liability involve (a) parents with care in receipt of income-related benefits, (b) non-resident parents in receipt of income-related benefits and (c) cases where both parents are in receipt of income-related benefits. [102728]
In the quarter ending May 2011, 18% of cases with a positive liability included a parent with care, who is in receipt of Income Support, Incapacity Benefits or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance.
11% of cases with a positive liability included a non-resident parent who is in receipt of Income Support, Incapacity Benefits or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance.
7% of cases with a positive liability included both a parent with care and non-resident parent who are in receipt of Income Support, Incapacity Benefits or Job Seekers Allowance.
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average child maintenance liability was (a) including and (b) excluding nil liability for parents with care in receipt of income-related benefits in the latest period for which figures are available. [102737]
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 average child maintenance liability was (a) including and (b) excluding nil liability for parents with care in receipt of income-related benefits in the latest period for which figures are available. [102737]
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As of May 2011, the, average weekly child maintenance assessment for cases where the parent with care or their partner is on Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance is £15.50. Excluding cases that have a weekly child maintenance assessment of zero, the average amount is £24.00 per week. These figures are rounded to the nearest £0.10.
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in what proportion of current Child Support Agency cases with a positive maintenance liability is the value of the weekly maintenance (a) £5 or less, (b) £10 or under, (c) £20 or under, (d) £30 or under, (e) £40 or under, (f) £50 or under and (g) more than £50. [102906]
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 my hon. Friend 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, in what proportion of current Child Support Agency cases with a positive maintenance liability is the value of the weekly maintenance (a) £5 or less, (b) £10 or under, (c) £20 or under, (d) £30 or under, (e) £40 or under, (f) £50 or under and (g) more than £50. [102906]
The following table shows the proportion of cases in each of the requested ongoing weekly maintenance bands in the quarter to December 2011 for cases with a current positive maintenance liability. This includes cases administered both on and off the main computer system.
| Assessment amount | Proportion ( % ) |
Civil Servants: Code of Practice
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many investigations into breaches by civil servants of the Civil Service Code of Conduct occurred in his Department in each month from May 2010 to March 2012. [103156]
Chris Grayling: DWP does not record investigations into breaches of the Civil Service Code of Conduct. The Department only records breaches when action is taken and a disciplinary penalty is incurred.
Every disciplinary sanction could be a breach of the Civil Service Code of Conduct, as the code states, all departmental employees should observe set standards of behaviour. These range from minor misconduct such as abuse of flexible working time to gross misconduct issues such as harassment.
The table provides the total number of all disciplinary sanctions recorded against DWP employees between May 2010 and February 2012, the latest available data.
18 Apr 2012 : Column 391W
The figures do not reflect the number of individuals warned, or the number of disciplinary incidents.
The Civil Service Commission Annual Report and Accounts for 2010-11 records that the Commission dealt with 25 approaches concerning complaints under the Civil Service Code in that year. This is the same number as was received in the previous year, 2009-10.
| Number of disciplinary cases recorded where a warning (oral, written, final written) or dismissal resulted after an investigation, May 2010 to February 2012 | |
| Monthly total | |
Credit Unions
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to issue guidance on the distribution of funding allocated for the work of credit unions. [103458]
Steve Webb: The Department has carried out a feasibility study of how credit unions can modernise and expand to serve many more customers. The feasibility study report will be published shortly in advance of an announcement regarding future support for the sector.
Departmental Pay
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid to officials in his Department and its non-departmental public bodies in (a) bonuses, (b) allowances and (c) other payments additional to basic salary in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what categories of payment may be made to officials in addition to basic salary; what the monetary value is of each category of payment; and what the monetary value was of the 20 largest such payments made in each of the last two years. [89680]
Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has two schemes for rewarding good performance in addition to base salary: end of year non-consolidated performance payments and in year awards.
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The Department uses these payments to motivate and engage employees and ensure added value to business performance.
End of year and in year awards have been used since DWP was formed in 2002 under the previous Government.
In year cash awards and end of year awards were introduced by the previous Government and have been in place in DWP since its formation in 2002.
DWP introduced vouchers as an in year award in 2007 under the previous Government.
The Department could provide details of the total amount spent on allowances and other payments only at disproportionate cost.
Details of the individual rates of allowances and payments payable since the Department's first harmonised pay award in 2002, under the previous Government, were provided in a separate table and placed in the Library. Details can be found in Hansard (17 November 2010, Official Report , columns 829-32W). The allowances remain frozen at the 2009/10 rates.
I refer the hon. Member also to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Stephen Hammond), on 17 April 2012, Official Report , columns 346-7W.
| Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) non-consolidated performance related pay | |
| The Pensions Advisory Service | |
| End of year non-consolidated performance payments | |
| Financial year | Total paid (£000) |
| Pensions Ombudsman/Pensions Protection | |
| End of year non-consolidated performance payments | |
| Financial year | Total paid (£000) |
| Personal Accounts Delivery Authority/National Employment Savings Trust (1) | |
| End of year non-consolidated performance payments | |
| Financial year | Total paid (£000) |
| (1)National Employment Savings Trust was established in July 2010 | |
| The Pension Regulator | |
| End of year non-consolidated performance payments | |
| Financial year | Total paid (£000) |
| Pensions Protection Fund | |
| End of year non-consolidated performance payments | |
| Financial year | Total paid (£000) |
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| Independent Living Fund | |
| End of year non-consolidated performance payments | |
| Financial Year | Total p aid (£000) |
| Remploy | |
| End of year non-consolidated performance payments | |
| Financial year | Total paid (£ million) |
| Health and Safety Executive | |
| End of year non-consolidated performance payments | |
| Financial year | Total paid (£ million) |
| In year non-consolidated performance payments | |
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| CMEC | |
| End of year non-consolidated performance payments | |
| Financial year | Total paid (£ million) |
| In year non-consolidated performance payments | |
| £000 | |
| (1) ( )The increase in end of year performance payments is due to £1.1 million being used as non-consolidated payments to base salary in 2009/10. (2) ( )£198,407 was in-year performance awards and £613,674 was for compensation payments. Note: The size of the non-consolidated pot is broadly the same for both years (£3.5 million in 2009-10 and £4 million in 2010-11). | |
Details of the total amount spent on allowances and other payments for NDPBs are provided in the following table.
| £ | |||
| B ody | P ayment/Allowance type | 2009 - 10 | 2010 - 11 |
|
Pensions Ombudsman (PO) and Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman (PPFO) |
|||
18 Apr 2012 : Column 395W
18 Apr 2012 : Column 396W
| £ | |||
| Body | Payment type | 2009 - 10 | 2010 - 11 |
Value of top 20 payments for both DWP and NDPBs
The following table shows the top 20 payments within the NDPBs and DWP for performance awards, allowances or other payments.
| £ | |
| (1) ( )DWP made two payments of £15,000. The rest of the payments made by DWP were below this amount. | |
Disability and Carers Service
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has any plans for the Disability and Carers Service to be required to provide details to applicants of why claims for assistance are refused. [103747]
Maria Miller: DCS currently administers disability living allowance, attendance allowance and carers' allowance.
Claimants are always provided with a letter explaining why their claim for a benefit has been allowed or refused. Where claimants request it we can provide an additional explanation about the decision and can reconsider the claim if asked to. We are currently developing personal independence payment and we will ensure that all decision notifications provide claimants with sufficient information on the decision outcome.
Mr Denham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the period for which emails sent and received by (a) Ministers, (b) officials, and (c) special advisers in his Department are
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retained; and whether such e-mails are recoverable from the IT systems in his Department after that period. [102947]
Chris Grayling: The Department currently has a "print to paper" policy for the retention of significant documents covered under the Public Records Act 1958 which requires such documents, when created electronically, to be printed and stored on registered paper files. The policy covers e-mails sent and received by Ministers, officials and special advisers.
Individuals are responsible for assessing the significance of a document and its need for retention. Under the policy, the following categories are considered to be significant:
Substantive contributions to the development of policy or legislation including factual evidence and interpretative material relating to accepted and rejected options;
Evidence of how far departmental objectives have been met;
Guidance and procedural documents that are published on the Department's Intranet or DWP/Direct.Gov Internet sites with any updates and amendments;
Published leaflets and forms;
Briefing and background material in relation to: parliamentary submissions, opinions and advice issued to Ministers or officials in the Department including speeches, parliamentary questions, treat official or other correspondence;
Records of decisions/measures taken to comply with legal obligations for example Freedom of Information Act, Environment Information Regulations, Data Protection Act, Health and Safety at Work Act;
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Significant programme and project records;
Contracts: tenders, variations and payments;
Agendas, minutes and papers—e.g. Executive Team, Departmental Board, ET sub-committees, public inquiries.
Departmental guidance mandates that documentation must be printed to paper if it is required beyond five years. Registered files are normally reviewed, five and 25 years after being closed to judge whether the papers should be retained.
All e-mails sent to and from the Department are archive stored in electronic form for 18 months. During this period, an individual e-mail can be recovered on request. After this 18-month period archived e-mails are un-retrievable.
Employment and Support Allowance
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people (a) nationally and (b) in the Hull region have been receiving the assessment phase rate of employment and support allowance for (i) more than 12 months, (ii) more than 10 months, (iii) more than eight months, (iv) more than six months, (v) more than four months and (vi) more than two months. [103491]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is provided in the following table:
| Employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants in the assessment phase by Kingston upon Hull authority and nationally—August 2011 | ||||||
| ESA assessment phase: | ||||||
| More than 2 months | More than 4 months | More than 6 months | More than 8 months | More than 10 months | More than 12 months | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Some additional disclosure control has also been applied. 2. Phase of ESA claim is derived from payment details held on the source system. 3. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. 4. Contribution-based ESA claimants will include those with both contribution and income-based elements. 5. On 1 April 2009 structural changes to the local authorities of England took effect. Changes are reflected from May 2009 in the Tabulation Tool. For more information see the individual benefits Background Information. 6. Data are published at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk Source: DWP Information Governance and Security Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study | ||||||
Funeral Payments
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applications his Department received for the social fund funeral payment in (i) Ashfield, (ii) Nottinghamshire and (iii) England in each of the last five years. [103745]
Steve Webb: The Ashfield parliamentary constituency is covered by the East Midlands North Social Fund Budget Area. The following table gives the total number of funeral payment applications and awards for the last five years (2007-08 to 2011-12) for this social fund budget area.
| Table 1: Funeral payment applications and awards in East Midlands North Social Fund Budget Area over the past five years | ||
| East Midlands North SFBA | ||
| Applications | Awards | |
| Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System | ||
The following table gives the total number of funeral payment applications and awards for the last five years (2007-08 to 2011-12) for the social fund budget areas in England and the East Midlands region.
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| Table 2: Funeral payment applications and awards in East Midlands and England over the past five years | ||||
| Applications | Awards | |||
| East Midlands | England | East Midlands | England | |
| 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, these amounts do not include expenditure on applications which were processed clerically and have not yet been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System. 2. Data on funeral payments are not held by local authority or parliamentary constituency but by Jobcentre Plus Social Fund Budget Area. 3. The figures for the East Midlands North Social Fund Budget Area in Table 1 cover parliamentary constituencies other than Ashfield. 4. The figures for the East Midlands region in Table 2 include figures for counties other than Nottinghamshire. 5. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System. | ||||
Jobcentre Plus
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment vacancies were advertised in Jobcentre Plus offices in (i) Ashfield, (ii) Nottinghamshire, (iii) east midlands and (iv) England in the latest period for which figures are available. [103486]
Chris Grayling: The number of part-time and full-time employment vacancies in Ashfield parliamentary constituency, Nottinghamshire unitary authority, east midlands region and England, as at 29 February 2012 were as follows:
| Live unfilled vacancies | ||||
| Vacancy type | Ashfield | Nottinghamshire | East midlands | England |
Older Workers
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that older workers have access to training to improve their skills; and if he will make a statement. [103492]
Chris Grayling:
Jobcentre Plus aims to deliver a tailored flexible package of back-to-work support to all jobseekers that includes work-related training as well as job-search support. Older jobseekers have the same access to a comprehensive menu of individually-tailored help as
18 Apr 2012 : Column 400W
those aged under 50 years (apart from the specific measures aimed at improving youth employment for jobseekers aged under 25 years).
In England, providers are rewarded for providing short units of accredited training, more suitable for Jobcentre Plus claimants, as well as for full qualifications. Older claimants of jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance (work-related activity group) are eligible for fully-funded training to help them into work. Jobcentre Plus work closely with skills providers at a local level to ensure that the training offered meets the needs of both claimants and employers. Claimants of these benefits can also participate in the sector-based work academies, which offer pre-employment training, work placements and guaranteed interviews in sectors with high volumes of current local vacancies.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has also agreed greater freedoms for colleges to deliver fully-subsidised training to people on other benefits, as long as the training is linked to helping the individual back into work. It will be for colleges and training providers to decide what training is offered locally.
All people in England aged 19 and over are eligible for fully funded literacy and numeracy training, regardless of benefit status. They are also eligible for training towards a first level 2 qualification.
The Work programme also provides support for those of all ages who are more at risk of long-term unemployment. Work programme providers are free to design support based on the needs of individuals and target the right support at the right time. Work programme providers are paid for getting people into work and keeping them there, which means that there are strong incentives for delivery partners to provide skills training where that support would help a customer move into work and keep them in work.
Parkinson’s Disease
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people under 30 years old are out of work following a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease; and how many such people have gained employment in the last 12 months. [103124]
Chris Grayling: Information on the health conditions of benefit recipients is self-declared and is recorded by a non-medical professional. Disability is therefore only collected at a high level of detail, usually in the form of high-level disability descriptor groups (i.e. Visual Impairments, Neurological Conditions, Conditions Restricting Mobility/Dexterity etc). The number of people out of work with detailed medical conditions such as Parkinson's disease is unknown, but will be contained within one of these high-level disability groups.
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to help people with Parkinson's disease get back into work; and what financial support is available to such people. [103238]
Chris Grayling:
We are committed to ensuring that disabled people, including physically disabled people
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with Parkinson's Disease, have the opportunities, chances and support that they need to get a job and remain in employment.
Support to find a job is delivered through a network of Jobcentre Plus personal advisers. We recognise that disabled people may have conditions or circumstances that require different levels of support which is why all Jobcentre Plus advisers undergo a comprehensive programme of blended learning to equip them with the skills and knowledge required to support the diverse needs of individual customers, including those with health conditions or disabilities.
We also ensure that customers receive a personalised package of tailored support based on individual need. This includes providing access to the wide range of other support mechanisms already in place to help individuals overcome any particular challenges that may be preventing them from finding and keeping a job.
In addition to this, if the customer has severe or complex barriers to work because of their disability or health condition they may be referred to a disability employment adviser for further support.
Disability employment advisers work with people who face the more complex barriers to finding and staying in a job. They will discuss with the individual how significantly they are affected by their disability in relation to employment. They may also work with work psychologists within Jobcentre Plus and with mental health and well-being partnership managers, to benefit disabled people. Disability employment advisers will help the claimant to agree job goals and the best way forward into a job.
The Work programme, which was launched on 10 June 2011, is the biggest single Welfare to Work programme. It provides more personalised back-to-work support for unemployed people, including disabled people.
For disabled people with more complex needs which cannot be met through the Work programme, the disability employment advisor may consider the use of other available options including work choice, which provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment, find and stay in work and ultimately help them progress into unsupported employment, where it is appropriate for the individual.
In addition access to work provides practical advice and financial support to employed disabled people in work above and beyond what the employer could reasonably provide, to help them overcome obstacles resulting from disability and thus stay in work and self employment. Residential training, which is delivered through nine residential training colleges, provides vocational training to unemployed disabled adults, whose needs cannot be met through any other government funded programmes.
If someone has an illness or disability that affects their ability to work they may be entitled to employment and support allowance. They will get increased financial support if their condition is more severe. Employment and support allowance offers personalised support and financial help, so that people can do appropriate work, if they are able to. Those with the most severe conditions are not expected to engage in work related activity.
Eligibility to employment and support allowance (ESA) is based on an individual's functional ability rather than the condition itself. Anyone claiming ESA will undergo the work capability assessment (WCA). The WCA is
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based on the premise that eligibility should not be based on a person's condition, but rather on the way that condition limits their functional capability.
In many cases ESA is just one element of the total package of support that a person receives. Additional support may be available through housing benefit, council tax benefit, child benefit, child tax credit and disability living allowance.
Peter Cruddas
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had any meetings with Peter Cruddas since May 2010. [103547]
Chris Grayling: This answer covers departmental business only.
The Department publishes on a quarterly basis details of meetings between Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and external organisations; these can be found at the attached links to the Department's website. Any missing information will be published in due course:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ministers-meetings-overseas.shtml
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ps-meetings-external-orgs.shtml
None of the Department's special advisers has met with Peter Cruddas.
For other officials we are unable to respond other than at disproportionate costs.
Sarah Southern
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had any meetings with Sarah Southern since May 2010. [103548]
Chris Grayling: The Department publishes on a quarterly basis details of meetings between Ministers, the Permanent Secretary and external organisations; these can be found at the attached links to the Department's website. Any missing information will be published in due course:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ministers-meetings-overseas.shtml
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/corporate-publications/ps-meetings-external-orgs.shtml
For other officials we are unable to respond other than at disproportionate costs.
None of the Department's special advisers has met with Sarah Southern.
Social Security Benefits
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working-age households in (a) Ashfield, (b) Nottinghamshire, (c) east midlands and (d) England were in receipt of benefits that totalled more than the proposed benefit cap under the provisions of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 excluding those households which are exempted in the latest period for which figures are available. [103538]
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Chris Grayling: In the district of Ashfield it is estimated that fewer than 100 households will be affected by the cap, when it is introduced in the financial year 2013-14.
The combined estimate for Nottinghamshire is 500 households (inclusive of an estimated 200 households in the city of Nottingham).
The estimate for the east midlands region is 2,100 households. The estimate for England as a whole is 61,600 households.
The figures presented above are consistent with the recent impact assessment published on 23January 2012. This assumes that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for working tax credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation. In all cases the Department is working to support households through this transition, using existing provision through Jobcentre Plus and the Work programme to move as many into work as possible.
It is important to note that these estimates were produced before the additional easements announced on 1 February which included the exemption of households who were in receipt of the support component of employment and support allowance and a nine-month grace period for claimants who were in work for 52 weeks or more before the start of their claim. This means that these figures are subject to change.
Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's definition is of fit for purpose in relation to medical reports carried out to assess eligibility for benefit. [103594]
Chris Grayling: Schedule 4 Part 2 of the DWP contract with Atos Healthcare requires that:
4.1.2 The CONTRACTOR shall ensure that all medical reports and medical advice provided by Health Care Professionals shall be Fit for Purpose, that is:
4.1.2.1 fair and impartial;
4.1.2.2 legible and concise;
4.1.2.3 in accordance with relevant legislation;
4.1.2.4 comprehensive, clearly explaining the medical issues raised;
4.1.2.5 in plain English and free of medical jargon;
4.1.2.6 presented clearly;
4.1.2.7 complete, with answers to all questions relating to disability or incapacity matters raised by the AUTHORITY, free of medical abbreviations and in keeping with advice as directed, taking into account written material; e.g. the Disability Handbook;
4.1.2.8 fully detailed where necessary and consistent, fully clarifying any contradictions in medical evidence; and
4.1.2.9 capable of comprehensively answering questions posed by the AUTHORITY without compromising any subsequent decision making.
Strychnine
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the use of strychnine for pest control. [103527]
Chris Grayling:
Strychnine was not supported by industry under the EU legislation dealing with pest control chemicals administered in the UK by the Health and Safety Executive (the Plant Protection Products
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Directive 91/414/EC and the Biocidal Products Directive 98/8/EC). Strychnine has therefore not been allowed to be used for pest control since 1 September 2006 and neither Ministers nor officials have received any recent representations on this substance.
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the use of strychnine for pest control. [103528]
Chris Grayling: Strychnine was not supported by industry under the EU legislation dealing with pest control chemicals administered in the UK by the Health and Safety Executive (the Plant Protection Products Directive 91/414/EC and the Biocidal Products Directive 98/8EC). Strychnine has therefore not been allowed to be used for pest control since 1 September 2006 and neither Ministers nor officials have discussed strychnine with our EU counterparts since it is no longer supported.
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of alternatives to strychnine for pest control. [103529]
Chris Grayling: Strychnine was not supported by industry under the relevant EU legislation dealing with pest control chemicals, and can no longer be used in pest control. No specific assessment has been made of alternatives to strychnine for pest control.
Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what toxicity analysis has been carried out on the relative effect of strychnine pesticides on human health compared to pesticides including (a) herboxone and (b) formaldehyde. [103530]
Chris Grayling: Strychnine was not supported by industry under the relevant EU legislation dealing with pest control chemicals, and can no longer be used in pest control. No toxicity analysis has been carried out on the relative effect of strychnine on human health compared to other pesticides including herboxone and formaldehyde. Other substances that have been supported are currently being assessed at the EU level and the UK will consider these assessments as part of the normal EU process.
Unemployment: Older People
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support he is providing to older people who are unemployed. [103493]
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps he has taken to tackle unemployment amongst people aged over 50. [102570]
Chris Grayling:
Jobcentre Plus treats jobseekers of all ages equally, and older jobseekers have the same access to a comprehensive menu of individually tailored help as those under 50 (apart from the specific options for jobseekers aged under 25). Jobcentre Plus managers and advisers now have more flexibility to help older
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benefit claimants to find employment, and support is tailored to the individual needs of each jobseeker, including help with work-related training and job-search support. Older jobseekers who are eligible can also access “Get Britain Working” measures, such as work clubs, work together, and the new enterprise allowance for individuals who are looking to become self-employed.
The Work programme will also provide support for those who are more at risk of long-term unemployment. Work programme providers are free to innovate and design support based on the needs of individuals, and will be paid primarily for the results they achieve in supporting people into sustained employment. All jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance and pension credit claimants can access the Work programme at a time that is right for them.
DWP is working with employers and employers' organisations, through the age positive initiative, to challenge outdated assumptions about older workers. The Department has been working in partnership with key business leaders in nine key occupational sectors to drive forward sustained improvements in the employment, training and retention of older workers as part of a mixed age workforce.
Communities and Local Government
Families
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether a local authority will receive a payment if a family in the troubled families programme satisfies the antisocial behaviour, crime and education criteria but an adult loses his or her job through no fault of their own. [103514]
Robert Neill: There are two means by which local authorities may claim the results payments. Firstly, if a family achieves the crime, antisocial behaviour and education outcomes, and achieves a progress to work measure of “attaching” to specialist DWP employment provision, the full payment may be claimed. Secondly, if an adult in the household moves off out-of-work benefits and into continuous employment for a specified period, the full results payment may be claimed. If the job is lost during this period, the result payment cannot be claimed. This is consistent with the principles applied by DWP's existing European social fund provision for troubled families an the Work programme. However, this does not preclude a local authority from claiming payments for the crime, antisocial behaviour, education and progress to work results.
Families: Expenditure
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the potential cost to each local authority of participating in the troubled families programme including the costs of working with more families than the indicator number for each authority as set out in the financial framework in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15. [103512]
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Robert Neill: The Government estimate that £8 billion is currently being spent per year purely reacting to the problems caused and experienced by these families, rather than proactively addressing their problems. A significant proportion of this is spent by local government.
If local authorities choose to participate in the troubled families programme, the Government are offering up to 40% of estimated costs of the services required. We estimate that the average cost of “turning around the life” of a troubled family is approximately £10,000. We expect the remaining estimated 60% to be found from within the resources of a range of local bodies, including local authorities.
If a local authority chooses to work with more families than the indicative numbers provided, the local authority will determine the services required and the resultant costs.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the additional cost to a local authority of each family eligible for the payment-by-results scheme through the troubled families programme. [103513]
Robert Neill: If local authorities choose to participate in the troubled families programme, the Government are offering up to 40% of estimated costs of the services required. We estimate that the average cost of “turning around the life” of a troubled family is approximately £10,000. We expect the remaining estimated 60% to be found from within the resources of a range of local bodies, including local authorities.
This extra investment by Government will help local authorities and their partners to save some of the estimated £8 billion currently being spent per year purely reacting to the problems caused and experienced by these families, rather than proactively addressing their problems. A significant proportion of this is spent by local government.
Fire Services: Pensions
Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many firefighters left the Firefighters' Pension Scheme in each of the last five years; [103750]
(2) how many firefighters enrolled in the Firefighters' Pension Scheme in each of the last five years. [103751]
Robert Neill: There are two pension schemes covering firefighters in England: The Firefighters' Pension Scheme 1992 (“the 1992 scheme”), and the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2006 (“the 2006 scheme”). These schemes are administered locally by each fire and rescue authority.
The following table sets out the information that the Department holds on members that have left the two schemes for each of the requested years:
| Normal retirements | Deferred retirements | Opt outs | |
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| (1) This information is not held centrally. (2) This information has not yet been collected. | |||
The 1992 scheme closed to new membership on 5 April 2006 and therefore has had no new scheme members since that date. The Department does not collect information on the number of firefighters that have enrolled in the 2006 scheme. However, membership of the two schemes totalled 37,185 members in 2008-09, 36,104 members in 2009-10, and 37,292 members in 2010-11.
Detailed scheme membership, as at 31 March 2007, can be found in the scheme valuation conducted by the Government Actuary's Department:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/fire/pdf/ActuarialValutaionGADReport.pdf
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On 30 March 2012, the Department published work force data on the firefighters' pension scheme relating to 2010-11. This can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/firepensionmembership201011
Insulation: Housing
Mr Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of homes are insulated to regulatory standards; how many and what proportion were insulated to these standards in each of the last 10 years; and how many are not insulated to these standards. [103549]
Andrew Stunell: The Department does not hold-information precisely in the form requested. However, the English House Condition Survey and, since 2008, the English Housing Survey contain information on the number and proportion of homes with insulation measures. The following tables set out that information:
| Insulation measures, 2001-10 | |||||||||
| All dwellings | |||||||||
| Thousand | |||||||||
| 2001 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| All dwellings | |||||||||
| Percentage | |||||||||
| Note: Dwellings may be counted in more than one row, so columns will not sum to totals. Sources: 2001 to 2007: English House Condition Survey 2008 onwards: English Housing Survey, dwelling sample | |||||||||
By way of a benchmark, since 2002, the recommended minimum standard for upgrading loft insulation as set out in the relevant approved document is 200 mm or more of mineral fibre insulation.
The figures in the tables relate to the housing stock as a whole, not just those new homes which would be subject to building regulations. It is not possible to disaggregate the figures for new homes.
Non-domestic Rates: Public Lavatories
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions his Department has had on the charging of business rates for public conveniences which are transferred from local authority to community control. [103577]
Robert Neill: None. This is a local matter on which we believe local authorities and their communities are best placed to make decisions. However, we would expect appropriate financial arrangements to be put in place before any public convenience is transferred to community control. In addition, the new Localism Act 2011 gives local authorities the power to provide business rate discounts. This can include providing a rate discount of up to 100% to those public conveniences which are not in council control.
Official Gifts
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to publish outstanding ministerial data for his Department on gifts and hospitality received by Ministers and meetings held between Ministers and third parties; and what steps he is taking to publish future information on a quarterly basis. [102493]
Robert Neill: Data for the period from July to September 2011 were published on 27 March. Data for subsequent quarters will be published at the same time as other Government Departments in line with normal practice across Whitehall.
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Procurement
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of contracts issued by (a) his Department and (b) agencies for which he is responsible were rewarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in the latest period for which figures are available. [100368]
Robert Neill: For the purpose of this question my Department has interpreted contracts as purchase orders raised for goods or services.
For the calendar year 2011, my Department has so far (up to December 2011) raised 22% of its purchase orders with small and medium-sized enterprises and spent 11% (£16 million) of our total procurement with these organisations.
For our agencies, they are as follows:
1. Fire Service College has awarded 44% of its identifiable contracts to small and medium-sized enterprises for calendar year 2011;
2. Planning Inspectorate does not keep records of contracts awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises but has spent 21% of its total procurement with these organisations; and
3. The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre has spent 41% of its total procurement in the same period.
DCLG has agreed four tasks that will increase engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises (i.e. updating our website with information to help these organisations understand how to participate in our procurements, delivering product surgeries, breaking larger procurements into smaller lots and publishing a pipeline of upcoming procurement opportunities). This is an ongoing strategy and we have implemented the necessary changes and procedures ahead of time. This is helping us contribute to the overall 25% target set by the Prime Minister.
Social Rented Housing
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) council, (b) housing association, (c) shared ownership and (d) any other model of social housing homes there are in each parliamentary constituency. [103120]
Andrew Stunell: The number of social rent homes owned by local authorities and registered housing associations in each English local authority district is shown in live table 100, published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at the following link. Figures are not collected on a parliamentary constituency basis.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/stockincludingvacants/livetables/
In addition to social rent housing, there were 127,000 homes across England under housing association shared ownership schemes as at 31 March 2011 according to the Tenant Services Authority's Regulatory and Statistical Return, but these figures are not collected on either a local authority or parliamentary constituency basis. Figures for the existing stock of other forms of social housing are not held centrally.
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Cabinet Office
Business
Ian Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the number of businesses in (a) Wrexham, (b) Wales and (c) the UK that employ fewer than five people. [103889]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated April 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what recent estimate has been made of the number of businesses in (a) Wrexham, (b) Wales and (c) the UK that employ fewer than five people. [103889]
Annual statistics on the number of enterprises are available from the ONS release; UK Business: Activity, Size and Location at:
www.statistics.gov.uk.
These estimates relate to the count of live businesses in March of each year.
The following table provides the latest statistics on the number of enterprises in (a) Wrexham, (b) Wales and (c) the UK that employ fewer than five people.
| Number of VAT or PAYE based enterprises that employ fewer than five people in Wrexham, Wales and the UK | |
| Geography | Number |
Deaths: Mesothelioma
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people have died of mesothelioma in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 2005. [103720]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated April 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people have died of mesothelioma in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England in each year since 2005. [103720]
Table 1 provides the number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was mesothelioma in (a) Jarrow parliamentary constituency, (b) South Tyneside local authority, (c) the North East and (d) England between 2005 and 2010 (the latest year available).
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes regular reports on mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease incidence and mortality, which include information on estimates of the future burden of deaths caused by mesothelioma in Great Britain. Further information is available at:
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/asbestos.htm
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| Table 1. Number of deaths where mesothelioma was the underlying cause in England, the North East region, South Tyneside local authority and Jarrow parliamentary constituency, 2005-10 (1, 2, 3) | ||||||
| Deaths (persons) | ||||||
| Area | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| (1) Underlying cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C45 Mesothelioma. (2) Figures are based on boundaries as of February 2012 and exclude deaths of non-residents. (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. | ||||||
Employment: Younger People
Ian Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what proportion of people aged 18 to 24 years who re-entered the workplace following a period claiming jobseeker's allowance found employment with (a) small and medium-sized enterprises, (b) other businesses and (c) public sector organisations in Wrexham in each of the last five years. [103694]
Mr Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated April 2012:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of people aged 18 to 24 who re-entered the workplace following a period claiming jobseeker's allowance found employment with (a) small and medium-sized enterprises, (b) other businesses and (c) public sector organisations in Wrexham in each of the last five years. (103694)
Claimant count data comes from information supplied by Jobcentre Plus. When terminating a JSA claim, data is only collected for generic categories e.g, found work, claiming another benefit and gone into full time education etc., and not on the size or type of business. Therefore it is not possible to provide the requested information