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| Table of YOT funding from 2007-08 to 2010-11 | ||||||
| £ | ||||||
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | Change 2009-10 to 2010-11 | % change 2009-10 to 2010-11 | |
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Northern Ireland
Press: Subscriptions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which magazine, journal and newspaper subscriptions held by her Department have been cancelled since May 2010. [127085]
Mike Penning: The magazines, journals and newspaper subscriptions held by my Department that have been cancelled since May 2010 are as follows:
Daily Mail
Daily Express
Daily Mirror
New Statesman
(cancelled from September 2012)
Financial Times
Guardian
Independent
Sun
Daily Star
Times
Daily Telegraph
Daily Express
Independent
(cancelled from September 2012)
Belfast Telegraph
Daily Telegraph
Sun
Daily Mail
Guardian
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Times
Irish Independent
Irish Times
Irish News
Newsletter
Financial Times
Belfast Constitution and Political Group
News Letter
Belfast Telegraph
Irish News
Irish Times
Prime Minister
Middle East
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Prime Minister (1) which meetings included human rights on the agenda during his recent visit to (a) the United Arab Emirates and (b) Saudi Arabia; and which other representatives from the UK were present at those meetings; [128308]
(2) what the outcome was of discussions during his recent visit to the Middle East in respect of human rights. [128309]
The Prime Minister: I had wide-ranging conversations with Emirates and Saudi leaders, as well as conversations with groups from the business, university and legal communities in those countries. We have a policy of supporting human rights around the world, and no subject is off limits in the conversations we have with these countries, as part of a strategic partnership in support of prosperity, security and open societies. I refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of what I said at Zayad university, Abu Dhabi which can be found on the No. 10 website.
Transport
Airports
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Commission chaired by Sir Howard Davies tasked to identify and recommend to the Government options for future UK hub airport capacity, for what reason he has precluded the possibility that the Commission could use its interim report to recommend a substantive airport policy if the Commission is persuaded that there is an urgent economic case to do so. [127738]
Mr Simon Burns: The published timetable for the Airports Commission sets out the issues that its interim report must address. The Commission will be free to go beyond this if it wishes to do so. Sir Howard and the Secretary of State for Transport are in agreement, however, that if the commission is to succeed, it must put in place a robust evidence base for any recommendations.
The timetable has been designed so as to allow the commissioners sufficient time to consider all the credible options on an equal basis, including those which have not yet been subjected to substantial development or evaluation.
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Billing
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average cost to his Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period his Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque. [125707]
Norman Baker: The average cost of processing the payment of an invoice for the Department and its seven executive agencies for the latest periods for which figures are available is £5.35.
In determining the average cost of processing an invoice, the cost is calculated by taking the direct costs of the staff involved, and dividing it by the total number of invoices paid.
The average proportion of invoices settled electronically and by cheque for the Department is:
| Percentage | |
Driving: Eyesight
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to highlight the dangers of driving with poor eyesight. [128272]
Stephen Hammond: Rule 92 of the Highway Code highlights that it is a statutory requirement to wear glasses or contact lenses while driving if you need them to read a number plate in good daylight from a distance of 20 metres. A number of Driving Standards Agency publications also highlight the dangers of driving with poor eyesight. The police have the power to require a driver to undertake an eyesight test.
Drivers must be able to read a number plate from 20 metres with glasses or corrective lenses if necessary. They must also notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency if at any time they develop an eye condition that affects their visual acuity or field and provide assurance that they have never been advised that they cannot meet 6/12 measured on a Snellen eyesight chart. Drivers who fail to notify or who drive while unable to read a number plate from the appropriate distance are committing an offence and may invalidate their motor insurance.
Macquarie Group
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times staff of his Department have met representatives of the Macquarie Group in the latest period for which figures are available. [127380]
Norman Baker [holding answer 8 November 2012]: Staff from the Department for Transport routinely meet a range of organisations from both the public and private sectors. The Department does not, as a matter of routine, collect data on the total number of meetings by staff with specific organisations.
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The Permanent Secretary had no meetings with representatives of Macquarie Group in the last 12 months. However, one Director General had a meeting with representatives of Macquarie Group in the last 12 months.
Additionally, details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly and can be found at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/ministerial-transparency/#meetings
Motor Vehicles: Insurance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the annual average price of car insurance of the introduction of the ban on gender discrimination in December 2012; [127661]
(2) what estimate he has made of the average annual car insurance premium for (a) male and (b) female persons aged between 17 and 25; [127665]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of users of telematics technology in each of the next five years; [127679]
(4) what his policy is on promoting the use of telematics technology for young drivers. [127680]
Stephen Hammond: The Government has made very clear its concerns about any move to prevent the use of gender as a risk factor in the pricing of insurance policies. We suspect that the impact of the judgment might in the short-term raise the cost of motor insurance for women drivers and give a smaller decrease for men. The Government continues to work closely with the Financial Services Authority and Association of British Insurers on this issue.
The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), has made no estimates for the average cost of car insurance for males or females between the ages of 17 and 25. However, you may find it useful to, know that on the 23 October, the AA British Insurance Premium Index published their findings on car insurance premiums for the three months ending 30 September 2012:
http://www.theaa.com/services/insuranceandfinance/insuranceindex/index.html
We continue to working closely with the motor insurance industry to examine initiatives to reduce insurance premiums.
The Secretary of State for Transport has made no estimates of the number of telematics users in each of the next five years. Some insurers have introduced the use of telematics or in-car black boxes to allow better risk-based pricing of insurance for young people.
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The use of telematics or in-car technology means insurers now have a real time data feed, which allows them to see an individual's driving behaviour, which has not been possible in the past.
There is some evidence that suggests that young drivers could see their annual premiums fall by 20% or more with a black box installed, saving many hundreds of pounds over time.
Research so far has also shown that use of telematics can significantly reduce crash rates and levels of risky driving behaviours.
We welcome the increasing number of insurers who are making use of this technology. We are supportive of any measures that make driving safer and also want to see improvements in young driver safety reflected in their insurance premiums.
Work and Pensions
Credit Unions
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support his Department is providing to credit unions which are experiencing difficulties breaking even in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement. [128307]
Steve Webb: The Department carried out a feasibility study to examine options for the modernisation and expansion of credit unions. Further investment of up to £38 million to the end of March 2015 will support participating credit unions to expand their service and reduce their delivery costs in a way that will enable them to become financially sustainable.
We have invited proposals from the sector and the bid evaluation process is now under way. We anticipate we will be in a position to contract early in the new year.
Housing Benefit
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit claimants under the age of 25 living in (a) the social rented sector and (b) the private rented sector of each passported benefit status are (i) single and without children, (ii) single with children, (iii) in a couple and without children and (iv) in a couple with children. [127724]
Steve Webb: The requested information is in the following table:
| Housing benefit recipients, passported, aged under 25 years, by tenure type, family type and passported benefit type, May 2012 | |||||
| In receipt of | |||||
| Tenure type | Family type | All passported | IS | IB-JSA | IB-ESA |
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| Notes: 1. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 3. Recipients are as at second Thursday of the month. 4. SHBE is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data is available monthly from November 2008 and May 2012 is the most recent available. 5. Passported status does not include recipients with unknown passported status. 6. Age groups are based on the age on the count date (second Thursday in the month), of either: (a) the recipient if they are single, or (b) the elder of the recipient or partner if claiming as a couple. Source: Single housing benefit extract (SHBE) | |||||
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which local authorities have indicated that they will provide additional funding to supplement the additional £390 million allocated for discretionary housing payments to ease the effect of his Department's housing benefit reforms. [128383]
Steve Webb: None. Local authorities are free to provide their own funding for discretionary housing payments of up to 2½ times their annual allocation from central Government. Allocations are made annually and for 2013-14 are expected to be announced in December. Local authorities have a large degree of discretion in deciding on the circumstances in which to make these payments. They need not decide beforehand whether and to what extent to add their own funding to the annual allocation in making decisions on who should be given priority or the amount of payment when considering claims.
Personal Independence Payment
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions his Department has had with the Motability charity on personal independence payments. [124024]
Esther McVey: We are continuing to work closely with Motability to understand what impact personal independence payment might have on their customer numbers and to ensure they are well placed to manage the introduction of the new benefit.
Remploy
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason three per cent of Remploy employees made unemployed this year have gained alterative employment. [128167]
Esther McVey: Not all of the 1,421 people affected have yet left Remploy employment.
The figure of 3% refers to the number of people who found jobs immediately following the closure of the first 27 factories.
Although it is still early days, we are starting to see people who have engaged with their Personal Case Worker and are using the People Help and Support Package find alternative work.
Remploy and DWP are working closely with local employers to identify vacancies and explore options for ex-Remploy workers.
Social Security Benefits
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the number of people in work receiving benefits; what proportion of benefits are paid to people in work; and what the total monetary value is of benefits paid to people in work. [128196]
Mr Hoban: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the right hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East (Mr Brown) on 21 March 2012, Official Report, column 716W.
This is the most recent estimate that has been made. The analysis did not cover numbers of benefit recipients.
Further benefit expenditure and caseload information is published at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=expenditure
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of the 56,000 households his Department estimates will be effected by the benefit cap, how many will be in receipt of employment and support allowance. [128382]
Mr Hoban: Our estimates of those affected by the benefit cap show that around 14,200 households will receive employment and support allowance (ESA) at the point of implementation (April 2013).
Please note that this figure reflects the expected migration of incapacity-related claims to ESA in the coming years—and so those on incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance are counted within the ESA figures.
The figures presented above are consistent with the recent Impact Assessment published on the 16 July 2012. In making these estimates we assume 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
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work as possible. Therefore, please note that these figures are subject to change prior to the policy being implemented in April 2013.
Unemployment: Young People
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Innovation Fund in addressing youth unemployment. [128381]
Mr Hoban: We have undertaken a very, systematic procurement process in order to select the best organisations to deliver the Innovation Fund projects. We have carefully scrutinised the quality, innovation and likely success of the projects as part of the procurement process. There is a robust evaluation in place to provide evidence on the success of the Innovation Fund projects and results will be published in due course.
Universal Credit
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish (a) the full list of passported benefits and (b) how they will be treated under universal credit. [128299]
Mr Hoban: A full list of the main passported benefits as published in the Social Security Advisory Committee report ‘Universal Credit—the impact on passported benefits’ is shown in the following tables.
The administration of passported benefits is the responsibility of a number of Government Departments and the devolved Administrations. We are currently working across Government to ensure that we introduce universal credit in a way that works smoothly with all passported benefits whilst ensuring that these benefits continue to be available to the families that need them most.
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|
Educational grants, e.g. Adult Discretionary Learner Support Funds, 16-19 Bursary | ||
| Scotland | ||
| Benefits-in-kind | Cash benefits | Discounts on charges or fees |
|
Healthy Start vouchers and vitamins (Scottish Government/DH) |
None repayment of children's welfare loans (Scottish Government) | |
| Wales | ||
| Benefits-in-kind | Cash benefits | Discounts on charges or fees |
|
Free school meals and free school milk (DFE/Welsh Government) | ||
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|
Exemption from paying the cost of board and lodging on residential trips | ||
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of workless households he expects to be in receipt of universal credit by March 2015 under the roll out plans of November 2011. [128300]
Mr Hoban:
The number of people in receipt of universal credit in each year will depend on the detailed rules for managing the build-up of the caseload. The briefing
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note published in November 2011 set out a broad strategy for migrating claimants, but did not contain a single precise option for migration.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department will announce the average marginal deduction rates and participation tax rates for the combined universal credit and council tax benefit in each local authority. [128301]
Mr Hoban: Universal credit will have the effect of significantly reducing the number of households facing higher participation tax rates as well as removing the situations where those in work face very high marginal deduction rates. Excluding the impact of localising council tax support, we expect that around 500,000 people who currently have MDRs above 80% will see these reduced to 76.2% or lower.
The design of and levels of council tax support are matters for each individual local authority and the Department does not have any plans to announce combined effects by local authority.
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to Table 5 on page 21 in his universal credit impact assessment, what the average cash increase in benefits will be for those first earners in workless households enjoying a lower participation tax rate under universal credit at (a) 10 hours, (b) 16 hours, (c) 25 hours and (d) 37 hours. [128302]
Mr Hoban: The information requested is not available.
Under universal credit, couples living in the same household will make a joint claim for benefits. It is therefore not possible to estimate the average gain and loss for an individual within a couple.
It is important to recognise that a package of transitional protection is being developed in order to ensure that there will be no cash losers as a direct result of the move to universal credit where circumstances remain the same.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he expects the current pause in all Government Procurement Service ICT procurements to have any effect on the timetable for delivering the ICT system for universal credit, including those elements dealing with identity assurance; and if he will make a statement. [128384]
Mr Hoban: DWP is not relying on the delivery of new GPS ICT framework procurements for the delivery of the ICT system for universal credit.
The elements dealing with ID Assurance were delivered through a DWP led Open Competition and not through a GPS ICT Framework.
DWP was seeking to utilise the GPS ICT Protective Monitoring lot for procurement for services to protect DWP online transactions. DWP has amended its procurement approach for these services in light of this pause and the timetable for that procurement has not been affected.