Israel: Palestinians
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to investigate reports of the use of British equipment in the demolition of Palestinian homes and other buildings in Jerusalem and the West Bank. [106649]
Alistair Burt:
We are concerned about the threatened and actual demolition of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. We are urging Israel to desist from the demolitions and evictions, which we
16 May 2012 : Column 201W
consider to be contrary to Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law; harmful to the peace process; as well as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians.
We are aware of reports that equipment manufactured by a British construction equipment company may have been used in demolitions. Officials from the British embassy in Tel Aviv lobbied the Jerusalem municipality on 21 February and were told that the Municipality had no plans to conduct wide-scale demolitions in the immediate future, which is welcome. We have no records of any licensable exports of armoured demolition vehicles or plant vehicles to Israel.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the number of Palestinian prisoners that have been tried before Israeli military courts in the last 10 years. [106829]
Alistair Burt: We do not have figures available on the number of Palestinian prisoners that have been tried before the Israeli military courts.
We continue to raise our concerns with the Israeli authorities over the use of a dual court system whereby Palestinians, except East Jerusalem residents, are subject to the Israeli military court system, irrespective of the charge, whereas Israeli settlers are dealt with by the Israeli civil justice system.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli authorities on the possible demolition of EU-funded buildings at Khan al-Ahmar in the Palestinian territories. [107447]
Alistair Burt: We have repeatedly made clear to the Israelis our serious concern at the 40% increase last year in demolitions of Palestinian properties in the west bank and East Jerusalem, as recorded by the UN. We view such demolitions and evictions as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and, in all but the most limited circumstances, as contrary to international humanitarian law.
I visited several buildings, including the school at Khan al-Ahmar, subject to demolition orders during my visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in January and subsequently discussed this issue with the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister on 9 January and the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister on 19 March.
Officials from the British embassy in Tel Aviv also raised our concerns about the issue of demolitions at a senior level with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 8 May.
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department plans to take to help ensure Palestinians' access to clean water and sanitation. [107233]
Alistair Burt: The fair and effective distribution of shared water resources across the middle east is of great concern to the UK.
The British Government has had detailed discussions with both Israeli and Palestinian authorities on the issue of water supply policies.
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The UK is funding a project working with Palestinians and Israelis to help improve co-operation on water issues to the benefit of both parties.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the number of Gazans dependent on food aid. [107448]
Alistair Burt: According to the latest figures (June 2011) from the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 66% of Gazans depend either entirely or partly on food aid.
Over the next four years, the UK will provide annually food vouchers to 5,750 poor households and temporary work opportunities to 5,300 vulnerable refugees to enable them to meet their basic food needs.
We continue to call on the Israeli Government to ease movement and access restrictions to enable the rebuilding of the Gazan economy and to reduce aid dependency.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made on the opening of crossings into Gaza. [107450]
Alistair Burt: We are clear that Israeli restrictions on movements of goods and people do serious damage to the economy and living standards of ordinary people in Gaza. The current situation fosters radicalisation and empowers Hamas. An improved economy is not only essential for the people of Gaza, but firmly in Israel's security interests. In close co-ordination with our EU partners and the Office of the Quartet Representation, we continue to press the Israeli Government at ministerial and official level to ease access restrictions.
I most recently raised this issue with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Ayalon on 18 January. Our ambassador to Israel also raised the issue with Prime Minister Netanyahu's Chief Negotiator, Yitzhak Molcho, and the Israeli Co-ordinator of Government Activity in the Territories, General Dangot, in March.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to visit Palestine to assess the humanitarian situation. [107451]
Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no immediate plans to visit the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
We maintain a regular schedule of ministerial visits to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including to assess the humanitarian situation. I last visited in January this year. The Secretary of State for International Development also visited in December.
Risk Assessment
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what strategic or transitional risk registers in each area of policy are held by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [107479]
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Mr Lidington: Risks are identified, assessed and managed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's global network of Posts and by Directorates in London. Risk registers are recorded in individual Directorate and Post Business Plans. The most significant risks are included in the Departmental Top Risks Register which is reviewed monthly by the Board of Management.
United Arab Emirates
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of the United Arab Emirates on the hunger strike of Peter Margetts in Dubai Central Jail. [106836]
Alistair Burt: Embassy officials have been in regular contact with the United Arab Emirates authorities regarding Mr Margetts' hunger strike. They have promised to keep us updated on any developments.
Treasury
Accountancy
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of staff in each of the last three years working for the Department have a recognised accountancy qualification; and how many such staff (a) have the Associate Chartered Accountant qualification and (b) are working towards a recognised accountancy qualification. [107595]
Miss Chloe Smith: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| As at September: | |||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
|
ACA(1) (Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales) |
|||
| (1) Includes those who have attained fellowship (FCA). | |||
Alcoholic Drinks: Prices
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an estimate of the effect of minimum pricing of alcohol on the value of duty on alcohol lost to HM revenue and Customs due to smuggling. [106488]
Miss Chloe Smith: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham and Sale West (Mr Brady) on 16 April 2012, Official Report, column 143W.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential effects of minimum unit pricing of alcohol on the (a) turnover and profit of (i) producers and (ii) retailers and (b) revenue raised by HM Revenue and Customs. [106542]
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Miss Chloe Smith: The effects of alcohol minimum unit pricing on alcohol producers' and retailers' turnover as well as on the revenue raised by HM Revenue and Customs will be driven by the level of per unit price of alcohol as well as by the consumers' behavioural response. The Government will consult on the level to be set for minimum unit pricing in the forthcoming months.
The analysis of the effects of introducing a minimum per unit price for alcohol will be performed during the consultation process to inform the policy impact assessment.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what comparative assessment he has made of the merits of increasing the unit price of alcohol by either (a) introducing a minimum unit price or (b) increasing VAT. [106543]
Miss Chloe Smith: Alcohol sales do not fall within any of the excepted categories from the standard rate of VAT under EU law, and therefore must be taxed at the standard rate. There is no scope for a rate that is higher than the standard rate, which in the United Kingdom is 20%. The Government has committed to introducing a minimum unit price for alcohol and will be consulting on the level to be set in the coming months.
Billing
Michael Dugher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of payments made by his Department to small and medium-sized enterprises have been paid late since May 2010. [107791]
Miss Chloe Smith: HM Treasury's aim is to pay all valid goods and services invoices within five working days and this applies to all suppliers of goods and services irrespective of size.
Details of the Treasury Group's performance against the five working day aim since May 2010 can be found on the Department's website at:
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/group_payment_performance.htm
Information on payment performance by size of supplier could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Bona Vacantia
Ben Gummer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is of all the cases referred to the Estates Group within the Bona Vacantia Division of the Treasury Solicitor and ceded to the state in the latest period for which figures are available. [106536]
Miss Chloe Smith: £7,085,474 was transferred to the Consolidated Fund in respect of unclaimed estates for the period 1 February 2011 to 31 January 2012. Estates' money passed to the Consolidated Fund can be subject to later claim by entitled kin within the 12 year limitation period.
Ben Gummer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases where a person died without leaving a will or any entitled kin were referred to the Estates Group within the Bona Vacantia Division of the Treasury Solicitor in each of the last five years. [106537]
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Miss Chloe Smith: The number of cases where a person died without leaving a will or any entitled kin were referred to the Estates Group within the Bona Vacantia Division of the Treasury Solicitor in each of the last five years is set out in the following table:
| January to December each year | Number of estates |
Departmental Staff: Political Affiliation
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the (a) job title and (b) pay band was of each official, excluding special advisers, recruited by his Department since May 2010 who was previously employed in any capacity by the (i) Conservative Party or its elected representatives and (ii) Liberal Democrat Party or its elected representatives; and whether their position was advertised publicly; [107283]
(2) what the (a) job title and (b) pay band was of each official, excluding special advisers, recruited by his Department since May 2010 who previously held an elected position as a member of the (i) Conservative Party and (ii) Liberal Democrat Party; and whether their position was advertised publicly. [107284]
Miss Chloe Smith: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of revenue lost to the Exchequer through unpaid duty on (a) beer, (b) wine and (c) cider. [106846]
Miss Chloe Smith: HMRC estimated that total losses in revenue associated through the illicit market in beer cost the Exchequer £500 million in 2009-10. This estimate was published in ‘Improved Beer Tax Gap Estimate: Lower Bound’, and is available online at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/beer-tax-gap-feb2012.pdf
Estimates for revenue losses in wine and cider are not currently available.
Further information is available in the publication ‘Measuring Tax Gaps 2011’, which is available online at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/mtg-2011.pdf
Excise Duties: Gaming Machines
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the data and calculations which his Department uses to set the rate of Machine Games Duty. [106461]
Miss Chloe Smith: The policy costings document published alongside the Budget outlines how the rates of Machine Games Duty have been calculated. The costings have been independently scrutinised by the Office of Budget Responsibility.
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The policy costings document is accessible at the HM Treasury website:
http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget2012_policy_costings.pdf
Families
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on direct support for families in each year since 2010; and what the projected spending on such support is for each of the next two years. [106426]
Miss Chloe Smith: Child benefit (CB) and child tax credit (CTC) are the main benefits paid exclusively to families with children. The outturn for the last two years and the forecast for the next two is as follows.
| Expenditure outturn | |||
| £ billion | |||
| CTC | CB | Total | |
| Expenditure forecast | |||
| £ billion | |||
| CTC | CB | Total | |
Expenditure outturn is an output of HMRC's administrative systems. The forecast expenditure figures were produced using the official child benefit and tax credits forecast models certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The information about child tax credit is based on an estimated split of the overall tax credits expenditure between child tax credit and working tax credit.
Unemployment
Alison McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment his Department has made of the medium and long-term cost to the Exchequer of the current level of unemployment. [106966]
Miss Chloe Smith: On 21 March 2012, the Office for Budget Responsibility published the official forecast for UK public finances to 2016-17, including a breakdown by individual taxes and other types of receipts and by categories of expenditures. This forecast takes full account of recent developments in the labour market and the rest of the economy and of Budget announcements.
The OBR forecast social security payments as a share of GDP to fall from 11.4% to 10.3% over the forecast period, as the economy recovers and unemployment falls, and fiscal consolidation through savings in social security take effect.
VAT
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 9 March 2012 from the British Hospitality Association and other large bodies representing the hospitality industry on VAT and the tourism sector; and if he will make a statement. [106659]
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Miss Chloe Smith: The correspondence referred to could not be traced as being received by HM Treasury. The hon. Member’s office has been asked for a copy and it will be dealt with as soon as possible on receipt.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was raised from VAT on alcohol sales in each of the last five years. [106688]
Mr Gauke: The information is not available.
Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT was refunded to visitors from abroad to the UK on goods which they exported to their home countries in the last year for which figures are available; and what the cost was of administering those refunds. [106690]
Mr Gauke: No estimates have been made. The information is not available.
John Glen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the imposition of VAT on (a) automatic defibrillators and (b) other first aid equipment; and if he will assess the merits of exempting such equipment from VAT. [106769]
Mr Gauke: Medical equipment supplied to an eligible body (NHS trust, charitable institution providing medical or first aid services, strategic health authority) by a charity or paid for with voluntary contributions is zero rated for VAT. Existing agreements with our EU partners do not allow the UK or other member states to extend the scope of their existing reliefs.
David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals for the tapering of tax relief for the introduction of VAT on holiday homes. [106856]
Mr Gauke: There are no proposals to introduce VAT on holiday homes.
Annex B—Tables of Impact for Individual Measures—in HM Revenue and Customs consultation document ‘VAT: Addressing Borderline Anomalies’, published at Budget 2012, sets out estimates for VAT which will be raised from holiday caravans and a summary of impacts upon which comments are invited:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/vat-con-4801.pdf
Education
Curriculum: ICT
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what impact assessment he has made of the potential effects on future employability of the removal of ICT classes from the curriculum. [106465]
Mr Gibb:
The Government is not proposing to remove ICT classes from the curriculum. Our proposal to disapply the existing Programmes of Study and associated attainment targets and assessment arrangements for ICT is an interim measure intended to give schools more flexibility to develop courses of study in ICT that meet the needs
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of their pupils more effectively. Under our proposals ICT would remain a compulsory subject within the National Curriculum at all four key stages. We have recently completed a public consultation on the proposals which received 333 responses, including comments relating to employability. We are currently considering the responses and will be announcing our conclusions shortly.
In addition, the Expert Panel advising the National Curriculum review has made some recommendations relating to the longer term position of ICT within the statutory curriculum. We have been discussing those recommendations with stakeholders over recent months and will also be announcing our conclusions on this issue shortly.
Free School Meals
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many pupils were eligible for and (a) claiming and (b) not claiming free school meals in (i) maintained nurseries, (ii) state-funded secondary schools, (iii) special schools, (iv) pupil referral units and (v) alternative provision in (A) Newcastle upon Tyne North constituency, (B) the North East and (C) England in the latest period for which figures are available; [106477]
(2) how many pupils were in (a) maintained nurseries, ( b ) state-funded secondary schools, (c) special schools, (d) pupil referral units and (e) alternative provision in (i) Newcastle upon Tyne North constituency, (ii) the North East and (iii) England in the latest period for which figures are available. [106478]
Mr Gibb: The available information has been placed in the House Libraries.
Information on the number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals is provided. This includes pupils of all ages including post 16 and nursery age pupils. Eligibility rates are lower for nursery pupils and post 16 pupils compared to pupils of compulsory school age.
It is not known how many pupils meet the eligibility criteria but do not make a claim. Information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals as at January 2011 is published in the Statistical First Release ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2011’, available at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001012/index.shtml
Literacy: Standards
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether it is still national guidance that teachers should correct no more than three spelling mistakes in a piece of work in order not to harm a child's self-esteem. [106637]
Mr Gibb: There is no current national guidance regarding the correcting of spelling mistakes; this is a matter for schools.
The Government is making a range of changes to emphasise the importance of correct spelling and grammar. A new Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling test will be
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introduced at Key Stage 2 and enhanced importance will be given to spelling in mark schemes for GCSE examinations.
Physics Teachers
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to recruit more physics teachers. [107030]
Mr Gibb: The Government's plans include funding a new Institute of Physics teacher training scholarship worth £20,000 to attract 100 of the best graduates into teaching physics each year, introducing training bursaries of £12,000 to £15,000 for all physics post-graduate teacher trainees with at least a 2.2 in their first degree, focusing marketing campaigns on science and mathematics, and accelerating the expansion of the Teach First programme, which has a good record of attracting top graduates into teaching science and mathematics.
Pre-school Education
Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of families in Reading West constituency who will receive free early education for two-year-olds in each year of the spending review period. [106737]
Sarah Teather: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the autumn statement of 29 November 2011, Official Report, columns 799-810, that the early education entitlement for two-year-olds will be expanded to around 260,000 children. The Government intends to take a phased approach to the implementation of the new entitlement. The 20% most disadvantaged two-year-olds will be eligible from September 2013. From 2014, the entitlement will be extended to around 40% of two-year-olds.
We estimate that around 400 two-year-olds living within the area covered by Reading borough council are likely to be eligible for the entitlement from September 2013. We are considering eligibility criteria for the second phase, and will consult in due course.
School Food
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to identify and spread best practice in respect of nutritional standards in schools. [107069]
Sarah Teather: New standards for school food in maintained schools were introduced, through legislation, in 2007. The regulations set out a combination of food-based and nutrient-based standards, and these are publicly available on the School Food Trust's website.
We expect maintained schools, as a minimum, to have arrangements in place to meet the standards. The Department has funded the School Food Trust £1.5 million in 2012-13 to help schools meet the standards and share examples of good practice. The trust's work includes advising the Department on evidence around school food, working with schools and caterers to support compliance with the standards, and supporting work to increase take-up of school food. The latest survey of
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secondary schools' compliance with the standards does show an improvement since 2004, but that further progress is still needed.
Secondary Education: Reading (Berkshire)
Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications he received for funding from his Department's summer schools fund for disadvantaged children making the transition to secondary school; and how many were for schools in Reading West constituency. [106685]
Sarah Teather: The Department for Education has received just over 2,000 eligible applications for the Summer Schools programme for disadvantaged pupils. Two applications received are from schools in the Reading West constituency.
Special Educational Needs: Direct Payments Pilot
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what progress his Department has made on the implementation of the provisions of the Special Educational Needs (Direct Payments) (Pilot Scheme) Order 2012; and if he will make a statement; [107067]
(2) when he expects personal budgets for special educational provision to be offered to parents in each of the local authorities listed in Schedule 2 of the Special Educational Needs (Direct Payments) (Pilot Scheme) Order 2012. [107068]
Sarah Teather: The provisions in the Special Education Needs (Direct Payments) (Pilot Scheme) (Order) 2012 came into force on 30 January 2012 and are for implementation by the local authorities named in Schedule 2 of the Order. It allows the Special Education Needs (SEN) and Disability Green Paper pathfinders, along with the Individual Budgets for Disabled Children pilot authorities, to test the use of direct payments for special educational provision as part of their work to trial the use of personal budgets.
The Department for Education is working through the SEN and Disability Green Paper pathfinder support team to help the authorities implement the Order. This activity has included two learning network events for pathfinders that have incorporated specific sessions on the implementation of the Order.
The Department has extended the independent evaluation of the Green Paper pathfinder programme to provide detailed information on the implementation of the pilot scheme. Working with the evaluation contractor, it is collecting information on the pilot authorities’ plans to implement the scheme.
The Department has yet to receive a response from all the authorities named in the Order, but the information received to date indicates that three authorities are offering direct payments and almost all expect to do so in either the summer or autumn terms this year.
Teachers: Recruitment
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to encourage more men to become primary school teachers. [107031]
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Mr Gibb: We recognise the benefit of increasing the number of male teachers working in primary schools to provide more role models. The Men in Primary School Experience Pilot Programme is designed specifically to provide school experience opportunities for men to help increase the number entering primary initial teacher training. We also expect the Troops to Teachers programme announced in the Schools White Paper to encourage more men to work in primary schools.
Teachers: Training
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications for postgraduate teacher training there were in each year since 1997. [106870]
Mr Gibb: Information on the number of applications for Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses in England from 1996/97 to 2010/11 made through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) is in the following table. These figures reflect the position at the end of the academic year.
Other postgraduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) routes are available but records of applications via these routes are not held centrally.
| Applications for PGCE courses in each year from 1996/97 to 2010/11 made through the GTTR | |
| Academic year | Applications |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and include some applications which were subsequently withdrawn. 2. Some applications for postgraduate ITT courses are made independently of the GTTR and are not included in the figures. 3. Membership of the GTTR changes between years, therefore the number of higher education institutions covered in this table varies from year to year. Source: GTTR | |
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding was available through the Graduate Teaching Programme for (a) science, technology, engineering and mathematics and (b) other shortage subjects in each of the last five years; and how much such funding he plans to make available in academic year (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15. [106939]
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Mr Gibb: The funding for the Graduate Teacher Programme consists of two parts: funding for the training provider to deliver the training programme (the training grant, which includes the salary grant administration fee) and funding to support the school's costs in employing the trainee (the salary grant).
Places and funding are allocated on a subject group basis that relates to the subject priorities of that year. The subjects in each group vary from year to year, but science, technology, engineering and mathematics have remained a priority throughout the last five years. The total funding available for priority subjects is as follows:
The funding regime was changed for the 2012-13 academic year, creating a separate group of the highest priority subjects. The subjects in this group are mathematics, physics, chemistry and modern foreign languages. £16.6 million has been made available for Graduate Teacher Programme training in these subjects. Funding for the Graduate Teacher Programme beyond the 2012-13 academic year is yet to be decided.
Teachers: Veterans
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many former members of the armed forces (a) applied and (b) were accepted for the Teach First programme in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012 to date. [106518]
Mr Gibb:
Teach First works in partnership with the Officers' Association to ensure that the Teach First Leadership Development Programme is promoted to
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all applicable candidates leaving the armed forces. The numbers of applications and acceptances are as follows
(1):
(1) Data provided by Teach First, May 2012
| Applications | Acceptances | |
Teach First are unable to provide figures for the 2012 cohort as this year's recruitment phase has not yet finished.
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 1 May 2012, Official Report, column 1522W, on teachers: veterans, how many of the 195 service leavers who have applied for initial teacher training courses since March 2011 were accepted onto and successfully completed those courses. [106527]
Mr Gibb: The number of service leavers who have applied for initial teacher training courses since March 2011 has increased to 214; of which 80(1) have been accepted onto courses. We can expect this number to increase as more providers confirm acceptances over the coming months. The 80 service leavers are not due to complete their courses until summer 2012 at the earliest.
(1) Data provided by the Teaching Agency, May 2012
Vocational Guidance: Disabled
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that schools continue to provide careers advice for disabled young people. [106761]
Mr Gibb: The Education Act 2011 places schools under a duty from September 2012 to secure access to independent, impartial careers guidance for their pupils. Statutory guidance has been published recently to support schools in planning for the introduction of the new duty. This makes specific provision to ensure that disabled young people receive advice about all the mainstream education, training and employment opportunities on offer, regardless of their individual circumstances, as well as information on the full range of specialist provision that is available. The statutory guidance also places a clear requirement on schools to secure face-to-face careers guidance for pupils where it is the most suitable support for young people, particularly those who have special educational needs, learning difficulties or disabilities.
Schools will be expected to work, as appropriate, with external and expert careers providers. The Government is working with the Careers Profession Alliance and other sector organisations to implement the recommendations of the Careers Profession Task Force. The 14 recommendations include the development of common professional standards, a code of ethics and initial training and continuing professional development to ensure careers advisers can carry out their role effectively, including when working with disabled young people.
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he plans to monitor the effectiveness of the careers advice schools provide to young disabled people. [106762]
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Mr Gibb: From September 2012, schools will have a legal obligation to secure access to independent and impartial careers guidance for their pupils. The effectiveness of schools in supporting the successful transition of all young people, including those with disabilities, into appropriate and sustainable education or training will be demonstrated by new education destination measures. Information will be published showing the percentage of students progressing to further education or training in a school, further education or sixth form college, apprenticeship or higher education institution.
Statutory guidance for schools on the new duty makes specific provision to ensure disabled pupils receive independent and impartial advice about mainstream and specialist education and training options available to them. A thematic review of careers guidance, reporting in summer 2013, will allow Ofsted to look at how well schools are responding to this and other aspects of their new responsibilities. The review will establish a baseline for future improvements in the quality of provision. School inspections will also provide an opportunity to consider the extent to which pupils have a good understanding of the options open to them as they move through school and on to the next stage of their education or training.
Young People: Drugs
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the proportion of young people in the Teesside area who use illegal drugs. [106453]
Sarah Teather: The Department for Education has not made any estimates of the proportion of young people using illegal drugs in the Teesside area; the data sources the Department uses do not provide local level data for illegal drug use among young people.
Work and Pensions
Accountancy
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many members of staff in each of the last three years working for his Department have a recognised accountancy qualification; and how many such staff (a) have the Associate Chartered Accountant qualification and (b) are working towards a recognised accountancy qualification. [107592]
Chris Grayling: The members of staff working for the Department with a recognised accountancy qualification in each of the last three years, as at 31 March each year, are:
| Number | |
| Note: The above includes only those individuals who are fully qualified, and have a professional qualification which the Department recognises as sufficient to allow individuals to be eligible to apply for posts designated as requiring a professional accountancy qualification. | |
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The numbers within the above who hold the Associate Chartered Accountant qualification are:
| Number | |
| Note: The above includes those who have the higher level qualification of Fellow, for which an individual usually has had to have been qualified at Associate level for 10 years or longer. | |
The numbers working towards a recognised accountancy qualification at these dates are:
| Number | |
Carer’s Allowance
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged between 50 and 64 years are in receipt of carers allowance in the latest period for which figures are available. [106902]
Maria Miller: As at August 2011 there were 197,330 people aged between 50 and 64 years old in receipt of carer's allowance.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Figures include the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital.
3. These figures are published on the Department's Tabulation Tool at:
http://83.244.183.180/100pc/ca/tabtool_ca.html
Source:
DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, 100% data
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were eligible for carers allowance in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many people claimed carers allowance in the latest period for which figures are available. [106903]
Maria Miller: As at August 2011 there were 1,032,790 people who were entitled to carer's allowance and 583,330 in receipt of carer's allowance.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Figures include number of people who are entitled to carer's allowance but do not receive payment because they receive an overlapping benefit equal to or greater than their weekly rate of carer's allowance.
3. Figures include the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital.
4. These figures are published on the Department's Tabulation Tool at:
http://83.244.183.180/100pc/ca/tabtool_ca.html
Source:
DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, 100% data
16 May 2012 : Column 216W
Child Maintenance
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission has to charge for the collection of child maintenance arrears which have accumulated under the previous two child support schemes. [106456]
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 plans the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission has to charge for the collection of child maintenance arrears which have accumulated under the previous two child support schemes. [106456]
I refer the hon. Member to the written reply I gave to her PQ 105823 on 30 April 2012, Hansard, column 1312W.
There are no such plans. Historical arrears from the two current schemes that are collected under the new scheme will not have a collection or enforcement charge levied against them. They will continue to be collected regardless of whether or not a parent to whom the debt is owed decides to open a case in the new child support scheme.
Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents of Reading West constituency have Child Support Agency cases with arrears of (a) £5,000 to £10,000, (b) £10,000 to £20,000, (c) £20,000 to £50,000 and (d) more than £50,000. [106670]
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, how many residents of Reading West constituency have Child Support Agency cases with arrears of (a) £5,000 to £10,000, (b) £10,000 to £20,000, (c) £20,000 to £50,000 and (d) more than £50,000. [106670]
This question has been interpreted as the number of non-resident parents of Reading West constituency with arrears as opposed to the number of parents with care.
At March 2012, the number of non-resident parents living in the Reading West constituency split by bands is shown as follows.
| Arrears band | Arrears case load: March 2012 |
16 May 2012 : Column 217W
Consultants
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on external consultants, including management consultants, in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [107502]
Chris Grayling: Spend on external consultancy services in 2010-11 was £18.2 million, this represents a 55% year on year reduction. Spend in 2011-12 was £5.8 million, this represents a 68% year on year reduction.
The Department will continue to use external consultants where appropriate and this remains an important provision. Each request for consultancy goes through an internal approval process involving senior officials, permanent secretary and Ministers.
Employment
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the causes of trends in employment among UK-born citizens since January 2007. [107604]
Chris Grayling: Employment trends over this period have been driven mainly by the impact of the recession. The employment rate of UK born workers aged 16 to 64 was broadly flat at around 74% in the years leading up to the recession but fell to 71% between Q4 2007 and Q4 2009. Since then the rate has followed a flat trend fluctuating around 71%, with the absolute number in work falling in line with a fall in the total population of UK born people aged 16-64.
Note:
Figures are from the Labour Force Survey and are not seasonally adjusted.
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who were born in the UK were in employment in each year since 2007, broken down by (a) type of job and (b) skill level. [107605]
Chris Grayling: Information is not published in the format requested.
Details of employment by country of birth and employment by occupation are available at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?newquery=*&newoffset=25&pageSize=25&edition= tcm%3A77-230793
Information on skill level is not available. Highest qualification level is often used as a proxy for skill level. Details of highest qualification level in the population are available from the 'Quarterly Statistical First Release—Post-16 Education & Skills: Learner Participation, Outcomes and Level of Highest Qualification Held' series:
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http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BF0E331F-AF8F-437F-838F-5A0313CC81F7/0/SFR_Commentary_March2012.pdf
Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were employed in the UK (a) in each type of job and (b) at each skill level in each year since 2007. [107606]
Chris Grayling: Information is not published in the format requested.
Details of employment by occupation are available at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?newquery=*&newoffset=25&pageSize=25&edition= tcm%3A77-230793
Information on skill level is not available. Highest qualification level is often used as a proxy for skill level. Details of highest qualification level in the population are available from the 'Quarterly Statistical First Release—Post-16 Education & Skills: Learner Participation, Outcomes and Level of Highest Qualification Held' series:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BF0E331F-AF8F-437F-838F-5A0313CC81F7/0/SFR_Commentary_March2012.pdf
Employment and Support Allowance
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of claimants of employment and support allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have been judged fit for work since October 2008; how many appeals against such determinations were initiated; and how many such appeals were granted. [106956]
Chris Grayling: The Department regularly publishes official statistics on employment and support allowance (ESA) and the work capability assessment (WCA). The latest publication was released in April 2012 and can be found on the departmental website here:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca
Table 1a in the publication gives the outcomes (including fit for work decisions) of all new claims to ESA received since its introduction in October 2008. The table gives this information for all claims received across the whole of Great Britain and also by region.
Table 3 in the publication gives the number of appeals against fit for work decisions in Great Britain and their outcomes.
The following tables give the number and proportion of claimants found fit for work and those appealing a fit for work decision for the South Tyneside local authority area and the North East region. Information for the Jarrow constituency is not available.
Table A as follows gives the latest data on fit for work outcomes at the initial WCA in the geographical regions shown. It covers all claims received by the end of August 2011.
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| Table A: Outcome at initial WCA for all new ESA claims received between October 2008 and August 2011 | |||
| Fit for work | |||
| Region | All completed initial WCA | Total fit for work | Percentage of all completed initial WCA |
Table B as follows gives the number of appeals heard and their outcomes. Note that appeals data is only available for claims starting by the end of February 2011 so is not directly comparable with the data in Table A above.
| Table B: Appeals heard and outcomes against a FFW decision at the initial WCA for ESA claims received between October 2008 and February 2011 | ||||
| Appeals heard | Appeals: DWP decision overturned | |||
| Region | Total appeals heard | Percentage of all FFW decisions | DWP decision overturned | Percentage of all appeals heard |
All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 cases or percentage point.
This information is taken from administrative data held by the Department for Work and Pensions, assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare and appeals data provided by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service.
Note:
The figures in the above tables represent people that have made a claim for ESA and do not include those moving to ESA as part of the incapacity benefits reassessment programme.
Employment and Support Allowance: Berkshire
Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employment and support allowance claimants resident in (a) Reading West constituency, (b) Reading and (c) Berkshire were placed in the (i) work-related activity group and (ii) support group in the latest period for which figures are available. [106663]
Chris Grayling: The following table shows the number of employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants placed in the Work-Related Activity Group and the Support Group between October 2008 to November 2011 (this is the latest period for which these figures are available). Information is unavailable for Reading West. The numbers provided have been rounded to the nearest 10.
| ESA awards in Reading and Berkshire | ||
| Work Capability Assessment (WCA) Outcome | ||
| Geographic Location | Work Related Activity Group | Support Group |
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| Notes: 1. The data presented above come from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions and functional assessment data from Atos Healthcare. 2. These figures do not include incapacity benefit reassessment claims. 3. A small number of clerical assessments, where the result cannot be determined from DWP benefits data, are excluded from these figures. 4. Berkshire represents the combined figures for Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell Forest, Windsor and Maidenhead and Slough. | ||
The Department regularly publishes data on ESA and the WCA, which can be found on the departmental website at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca
Employment Schemes
Mr Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many long-term benefits claimants who are fit to work have not yet been referred on to the work programme. [106626]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
At present we do not collect management information on the number of customers who have not been referred to the Work programme.
Employment Schemes: Reading (Berkshire)
Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many businesses in Reading West constituency are participating in the Work Experience programme. [106672]
Chris Grayling: We do not hold this information.
Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claiming employment and support allowance were referred into the work programme in Reading West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [106674]
Chris Grayling: Official statistics on Work programme referrals and attachments up to the end of January 2012 were published on 9 May. The information requested can be found via the Tabulation Tool which is published on the Department's website:
http://83.244.183.180/WorkProg/tabtool.html
Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were successfully placed in jobs by Work programme contractors in Reading West constituency in each of the last 12 months. [106675]
Chris Grayling: The Department aims to publish official statistics on Work programme job outcomes in autumn 2012 and it is intended that these figures will include a constituency breakdown.
16 May 2012 : Column 221W
Employment Schemes: Young People
David Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals have received Youth Contract wage subsidies since the launch of the scheme. [106712]
Chris Grayling: The Youth Contract wage incentives which are worth up to £2,275 each are paid directly to employers and not to individuals. No wage incentives have yet been paid because the earliest eligibility would be eight weeks (for smaller employers) after the launch of the Youth Contract on 2 April.
Incapacity Benefit
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many incapacity benefit claimants in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK were placed in a work-related activity group in each of the last five years; [106953]
(2) how many incapacity benefit claimants in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the north-east and (d) the UK were placed on jobseeker's allowance in each of the last five years. [106954]
Chris Grayling: The reassessment of incapacity benefits claimants for employment and support allowance started nationally in April 2011.
The Department recently published a first release of official statistics on the outcomes of claims undergoing the incapacity benefits reassessment (IBR) process. This covers all cases that were first referred for reassessment by the end of July 2011. The statistics can be found on the departmental website at:
http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_ibr
In addition the Department recently released an additional breakdown of the IBR data which provide regional and local authority outcomes of the IBR process. This information is also available at the above link.
Information on the number of claimants leaving IB that go on to claim jobseeker's allowance is not available.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what impact assessment was made by his Department prior to the roll-out of the incapacity benefits migration programme in April 2011; and if he will publish any such assessment. [107230]
Chris Grayling: In 2010 the Department produced an impact assessment covering the reassessment of existing incapacity benefits claims for employment and support allowance.
The impact assessment can be found on the UK Legislation website at the following link:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/875/pdfs/uksiem_20100875_en.pdf
Long-term Unemployed People: Training
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what financial assistance is available to long-term unemployed people who wish to retrain for professions such as an electrician. [106854]
16 May 2012 : Column 222W
Chris Grayling: Jobcentre Plus offers personalised and tailored support for unemployed people to return to work as soon as possible, as it is often easier for people to pursue their careers once they have found a job.
Longer term unemployed people are eligible for the Work Programme. Work Programme providers are free to design support based on individual and local need, which could include an element of retraining.
In England, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have agreed that unemployed people claiming out of work benefits are eligible for training that will give them the skills they need to get a job.
Training providers now have greater freedom to tailor training to the needs of the local community and economy. Jobcentre Plus is playing an important role in influencing the local training offer, engaging with employers, colleges and providers.
Apprenticeships provide an important vocational route for people to develop their employment skills and progress while in work. As an employee, apprentices earn as they learn, gain practical skills in the workplace, and work to nationally recognised qualifications.
Pay
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of his Department's officials located in Wales would be affected by proposals for local-facing pay. [107527]
Chris Grayling: As at 1 April 2012, the number of DWP staff in post in Wales is 6,446. This is the number of staff potentially affected by proposals for local market facing pay. At this stage we are unable to confirm whether the proposals will affect all staff in Wales and if so to what extent.
When the market rates and metrics, outlined in my response to the hon. Member on 27 March 2012, are finalised we will complete the development of our strategy for local market facing pay.
Sick Leave
Mr Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days of sick leave were taken by staff in his Department in each of the last three years. [106440]
Chris Grayling: In accordance with cross-Government arrangements, the Department reports sick leave expressed as average working days lost (AWDL) per employee per year. The following table provides AWDL data for the last three performance years:
| AWDL | |
We are committed to building upon the improvement reflected in these data by helping staff maintain good health at work, rehabilitating them back to work when they fall ill and taking prompt and firm administrative action when they are unable to maintain good attendance records. This will accord with the best practice reported
16 May 2012 : Column 223W
by Dame Carol Black and David Frost CBE in ‘Health at work—an independent review of sickness absence’, published in November 2011.
Social Security Benefits
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has estimated the potential change in the volume of work for bailiffs arising from benefit changes in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14; and if he will make a statement. [107049]
Chris Grayling: An estimate of these effects has not been made by the Department.
Social Security Benefits: Airdrie
Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much benefit was paid to claimants in Airdrie and Shotts constituency in 2011-12; and what estimate he has made of the level of payments in 2012-13. [106897]
Maria Miller: Expenditure figures for 2011-12 are not yet available. DWP does not produce expenditure forecasts below Great Britain level. Benefit expenditure for Airdrie and Shotts constituency in 2010-11 was £198.6 million.
Further benefit expenditure data by country, region, local authority and parliamentary constituency to 2010-11 can be found here:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=expenditure
Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of making the benefit cap helpline a freephone number; and what consideration he has given to providing such a number. [107587]
Chris Grayling: The Department is currently reviewing its telephony numbering policy in conjunction with Ofcom, and this includes the use of 0845 telephone numbers.
The Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) current strategy is that calls to claim benefit or request emergency payments should be free, so it uses 0800 free phone numbers for these calls.
The Department currently uses 0845 telephone numbers when claimants call for other reasons, and these are calls that typically take less time to resolve. The charges that apply to these calls will be set by the customer's telephone or mobile operator.
DWP currently has an agreement with eight of the UK's main mobile phone operators that calls to DWP 0800 numbers are free. If we migrated all of our 0845 telephone numbers over to 0800, it is unlikely that mobile phone operators would agree to extend the agreement to cover the increase.
We are aware of the financial difficulties that this can cause some people and so, when someone asks us or raises concern over the cost of a call, we will offer to call them back. The Department also provides "Customer
16 May 2012 : Column 224W
Access Phones" in a large number of its Jobcentre Plus offices, where people can make benefit claims or pursue job applications and they do not have to pay when using these facilities. These phones can also be used to make an enquiry in relation to the benefit cap.
Telephone Services
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many call centres provide services for his Department and the bodies for which he is responsible; and how many such call centres are based abroad. [107016]
Chris Grayling: The Department (not including CMEC) provides a telephony service from a network of 57 DWP contact centres. All of these sites are located within the UK.
33 deal with working age benefits
13 deal with pension age benefits
one deals with disability benefits
one deals with Carers Allowance
five deal with Debt enquiries
two are non departmental public bodies (National Employee Savings Trust and Remploy)
two deal with employee shared service inquiries.
Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide details of the universal credit pathfinder that will launch in April 2013. [107588]
Chris Grayling: We are developing our plans for a pathfinding approach to support the testing of universal credit and expect to make an announcement shortly.
Work Capability Assessment
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average number of work capability assessments carried out by Atos Healthcare was (a) each day, (b) each week, (c) each month and (d) each year in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012 to date. [106982]
Chris Grayling: Work capability assessments (WCAs) undertaken by Atos Healthcare can be provided through either a face to face assessment or where a face to face assessment is not required. The total number of WCAs conducted in the period 2010-12 is a:
| Year | Month | Week | Working day | |
16 May 2012 : Column 225W
The figures include both ESA and IBR assessments.
The data have been prepared by Atos Healthcare and provide the number of WCAs carried out by Atos.
These data only represent assessments carried out where Atos has given their recommendation to the DWP decision-maker (DM). After Atos provides a recommendation to the Department, the DM will then make a final decision on entitlement. The DM will take the Atos recommendation and any other relevant information into consideration when coming to a final decision for a particular case.
The figures are based on calendar years for 2010 and 2011 and for 2012 covers the period 1 January to 10 May.
These figures produced by Atos Healthcare are not directly comparable with departmental published statistics for ESA and IBR. The above figures show the number of WCAs undertaken by Atos, whereas departmental statistics give the final outcomes of the assessments.
The Department regularly publishes official statistics on ESA, incapacity benefits reassessment (IBR) and the WCA, the latest ESA publication was released in April 2012. These statistics provide a complete picture of all new ESA claims received including their final outcome at assessment, any subsequent appeals and other more detailed information including the health conditions of claimants. The publication can be found on the departmental website at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca
The latest IBR publication provides data on the final outcomes for claims going through the IB reassessment process and can be found on the departmental website at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_ibr
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to publish updated cancer descriptors for the work capability assessment; when he plans to publish updated fluctuating conditions descriptors for the work capability assessment; when he expects Professor Malcolm Harrington to publish his third review of the work capability assessment; and whether there are targets for the number of work capability assessments Atos Healthcare must carry out each (a) day, (b) week, (c) month and (d) year. [106983]
16 May 2012 : Column 226W
Chris Grayling: Following work during Professor Harrington's 2(nd) Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), the Department conducted an informal consultation on accounting for the effects of cancer treatment in the WCA to seek views on our proposals. We are currently analysing these responses and will publish a consultation response, this will include more detailed proposals for changes. Publication of this document is planned for the summer. Until we have done so it would be inappropriate to make comment on any changes to the WCA.
Additionally, recognising that particular concerns have been raised about the way the WCA works for people with fluctuating chronic physical conditions and for people with mental, intellectual and cognitive conditions, Professor Harrington asked leading charities to make recommendations to refine the specific descriptors used in the WCA. Professor Harrington agreed with the Government that further evidence is required to establish whether the charities' proposed descriptors would make the assessment more accurate; we are currently investigating how to build up such an evidence base.
Professor Harrington has agreed to take forward the third annual Independent Review of the WCA. We look forward to receiving his latest report, publication of which is planned for November.
The Department does not set weekly or monthly numerical targets for the number of work capability assessments Atos Healthcare are expected to clear as this depends on the number of claims received.
The current contractual agreement between DWP and Atos Healthcare does contain performance targets covering a range of features including throughput, claimant service and medical quality. These targets form part of the overall ESA customer journey of 91 days and performance on a monthly basis is measured and monitored.
Work Capability Assessment: Independent Review
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to which (a) benefit delivery centres and (b) Atos Healthcare centres Professor Malcolm Harrington made unannounced visits in 2012. [106974]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
(a) Professor Malcolm Harrington has made visits to Benefit Centres at Plymouth on 9 March, Burnley on 27 March and Oldham on 27 March 2012.
(b) Professor Harrington has made no unannounced visits to Atos Medical Assessment Centres so far during 2012.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department were involved in conducting the Harrington review of the work capability assessment in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; and how many such staff are projected to be involved in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014. [106979]
Chris Grayling:
We are committed to continuously improving the work capability assessment (WCA) to ensure that it is as fair and accurate as possible. As part of this, we have a statutory commitment to independently
16 May 2012 : Column 227W
review the WCA annually for the first five years of its operation. Professor Harrington has now carried out two independent reviews of the WCA.
During his initial two independent reviews, Professor Harrington was supported by the following number of dedicated departmental staff:
(a) Five during 2010;
(b) Two during 2011.
Professor Harrington is currently taking forward the third independent annual review of the WCA and is currently supported by:
(c) Two staff.
Until the result of the third independent review is clear, it is not possible to project departmental resource requirements to support further independent reviews.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who will succeed Professor Malcolm Harrington in carrying out the independent review of the work capability assessment. [106980]
Chris Grayling: Professor Harrington is not due to deliver his third independent report until November. Therefore, no successor has yet been appointed.
16 May 2012 : Column 228W
Work Capability Assessment: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Mr Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has considered exempting people diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome from the work capability assessment. [106952]
Chris Grayling: As the WCA is an assessment of someone's functional capability, rather than their condition, it does not list exempted conditions.
This approach is based on the principle that a health condition or disability should not automatically be regarded as a barrier to work, and differs from previous approaches to assessment.
The Department recognises that disabilities and health conditions affect different people in different ways, and that it is important to treat people as individuals rather than label them because of their condition.
For those people whose condition is likely to qualify them for the Support Group, the health care professionals will, where possible, advise using the available paper-based evidence, and the claimant would not be asked to attend a face-to-face assessment.