Sentencing: Appeals

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward legislative proposals to allow the Crown Prosecution Service to appeal to the Crown Court against convictions and sentences from magistrates' courts. [165404]

Mrs Grant: It is a long-standing principle that a person should not be subjected to trial twice for the same offence. Exceptions to this 'double jeopardy' rule, which are rare, are limited to Crown court cases only. In summary cases, although the prosecution may challenge a decision that appears to be wrong in law or in excess of jurisdiction, it has no right of appeal against a decision to dismiss or against sentence, and the Government have no plans to change this.

Small Claims

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of raising the small claims limit on the (a) number of cases going through the small claims court and (b) number of litigants in person; [166637]

(2) when he plans to publish his response to the consultation on reducing the number and cost of whiplash claims. [166644]

Mrs Grant: On 16 May I announced in a written ministerial statement that the Government would defer their response to the ‘reducing the number and cost of whiplash claims’ consultation until after the Transport Committee had published its own report and recommendations in this area. The Committee's report was published on 31 July and is being considered, along with the responses received to the consultation. The Government's response will be published later this year.

Alongside our consultation paper, the Government published an impact assessment on the potential effects of the proposal to increase the ‘small claims limit’ for personal injury claims. A revised impact assessment will be published at the same time as the Government's response to the consultation.

Social Networking

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will list all Twitter accounts for which officials of his Department (a) have had and (b) currently have responsibility for (i) monitoring and (ii) updating. [163556]

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice is responsible for three Twitter accounts. The following Twitter accounts are monitored and updated across the Department, @mojgovuk, @mojpress, @mojubrennan.

There is also a dormant account called @justicegovuk which is not managed or monitored.

Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what his Department's budget for ministerial travel for (a) the Government Car Service, (b) private hire vehicles, (c) taxis, (d) rail, (e) aviation and (f) other is for (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16; [157530]

(2) how much his Department spent on ministerial travel by (a) Government Car Service, (b) private hire vehicles, (c) taxis, (d) rail, (e) aviation and (f) other means in each year of the current parliament. [157551]

Damian Green: The Department does not budget separately for ministerial travel within Private Office. The travel budget for Private Office includes travel for both Ministers and Private Office staff who may accompany on visits, external meetings and overseas trips.

The travel budget is not apportioned to transport categories for rail, taxis and aviation.

Forecasting travel for ministers is dictated by Government policy and political events.

Information relating to the Department's budget allocated to Private Office for travel for each year in the current Parliament is included in the following table:

The provision of transport for Ministers is currently under review with a number of options being trailed at present. Therefore, it is not yet possible to forecast budget required for 2014-15 and 2015-16 at the level of detail requested.

The Budget for the Government Car Service for 2013-14 is £150, 000. Details of the charges incurred by Departments for the use of official Government cars provided to Ministers by the Government Car and Dispatch Agency (GCDA) are published in an annual WMS published by Department for Transport. These can be accessed via the following links:

2009/10:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm# 10102827000372

2010/11:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120116/wmstext/120116m0001.htm# 12011611000194

2 Sep 2013 : Column 227W

2010/12:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121220/wmstext/121220m0001.htm#12122056000216

2012/13:

Will be published in due course.

The Ministerial Code, published on 21 May 2010, dramatically reduced the circumstances in which Ministers are entitled and allocated cars and drivers, with a move to a Ministerial Car Pool System.

There are no formal arrangements for ministerial car travel other than that provided by the Government Car and Dispatch Agency and private hire vehicles are not used by Ministers in the Department.

Information relating to expenditure for ministerial travel by taxis for each year in the current Parliament is included in the following table:

The Department's policy on travel by taxi (or use of the Government Car Service) is that it is not an entitlement and, where possible, journeys should be made by public transport. Taxi fares may be reimbursed only where there is no other suitable form of public transport, or where heavy luggage has to be transported, or where the saving in officials' time is important. Where necessary, a standing arrangement may be made, say, for the conveyance of a large number of files from a court office to a separate court building.

All Ministers are encouraged to walk or use public transport wherever practicable.

For expenditure on rail and aviation we are unable to provide the information because no central records are maintained. To ascertain this information, expense claims would need to be reviewed individually for claims submitted over the period in question; this would involve disproportionate cost.

Trials

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many criminal trials at the (a) Crown Court and (b) magistrates' court were cracked because of (i) a late guilty plea being accepted, (ii) a guilty plea to an alternative new charge, (iii) the defendant being bound over and (iv) the prosecution ending the case in 2012-13. [156925]

Mrs Grant: The number of cracked criminal trial hearings by reason is published as part of the quarterly National Statistics bulletin ‘Court Statistics Quarterly’. Data up to March 2013 were released on the 20 June 2013 and are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/court-statistics-quarterly-jan-mar-2013

The following table details cracked trials by reason and court type for the 12 months ending March 2013.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 228W

Unpaid Fines

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the total amount of uncollected fines issued by courts is. [165758]

Mrs Grant: The total amount of financial penalties (excluding confiscation) outstanding at the end of March 2013 was £575,507,170. This amount includes the balance outstanding of fines, costs orders, compensation orders, victim surcharge orders and unpaid fixed penalty notices and penalty notices for disorder which are registered as fines for enforcement purposes. The amount outstanding includes the balance on accounts that are being paid by instalments or are not yet due for payment. The amount outstanding can relate to amounts that were imposed in the 2012-13 year or any previous year.

The balance on accounts remains outstanding until the impositions are paid in full or cancelled. Financial impositions are only administratively cancelled in accordance with a strict write-off criteria, after all attempts to collect the amount outstanding have been made. The circumstances under which amounts can be administratively cancelled can include offenders who have gone abroad with little prospect of return, offenders who have been sent to a mental health institution for 12 months or more, and offenders who have died. They can also include cases where offenders who cannot be traced and the imposition is over 12 months old, and all reasonable steps have been taken to enforce the amount. Financial impositions which are administratively cancelled can be written back on to the system if more information, for instance a new address, is found.

HMCTS takes the issue of fine enforcement very seriously and is working to ensure that clamping down on fine defaulters is a continued priority nationwide.

In the 2012-13 financial year the total amount outstanding was reduced by £17.8 million (3%), and the total amount collected of £284 million was a record high.

Unpaid Fines: Nottinghamshire

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what level of unpaid fines are owed to the courts in (a) Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire. [166560]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 229W

Mrs Grant: It is not possible to identify the value of financial impositions outstanding in just Nottingham.

The total amount outstanding for financial impositions in Nottinghamshire at the end of March 2013 was £6,051,107.

Financial impositions include fines imposed in the magistrates and Crown courts, costs orders, compensation orders, victim surcharge orders and unpaid fixed penalty notices and penalty notices for disorder which are registered as fines for enforcement. The balance outstanding includes accounts that were being paid by instalments or were not due for payment by the end of the year.

HMCTS takes the issue of fine enforcement very seriously and is working to ensure that clamping down on fine defaulters is .a continued priority nationwide.

Victim Support: North Yorkshire

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much core grant was provided by his Department to Victims Support for services to support its (a) Crown Court Witness Service and (b) Magistrates' Court Witness Service in North Yorkshire in each year since 2004-05. [163893]

Mrs Grant: The Government provide a grant of £38 million per year to victim support to provide core services to support victims and witnesses; this has increased from £30 million in the year 2004-05.

The Grant Agreement stipulates that this must provide a national court-based witness service that is free at the point of use, and is independent of the police and courts.

The core Grant Agreement does not specify the amounts to be spent on the provision of the witness service nationally or at regional or court level. Victim Support estimates that the witness service costs £13 million per year, and provides 1.1 million hours per year of support to witnesses on a national basis.

Victim support has provided the following figures for the period requested:

Wales

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department provides services to people resident in Wales or usually resident in Wales. [166110]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 230W

Mrs Grant: The Ministry of Justice and its agencies provide a wide range of services to people resident in Wales or usually resident in Wales. These include (but are not limited to) offender management and probation services; courts and tribunals services; provision of legal aid; youth justice services; public guardianship services; criminal injuries compensation; and claims management regulation.

Welsh Language

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has a current Welsh Language scheme; when that scheme was adopted; and whether it has been reviewed since May 2011. [166092]

Mrs Grant: The Ministry of Justice's current Welsh Language Scheme was published on 24 March 2010. The scheme is monitored every year and an Annual Monitoring Report sent to the Welsh Language Board/Welsh Language Commissioner. The scheme is currently being reviewed with the aim of publishing an updated scheme in 2014.

Work Capability Assessment: Appeals

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to his Department of appeals made against the outcome of work capability assessments was in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13. [166279]

Mrs Grant: The First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA) (decisions in which the work capability assessment is a key factor) rather than appeals against work capability assessment outcomes themselves.

The estimated total cost of the 189,459 ESA appeals in which the work capability assessment was a factor disposed of during the period April 2011 to March 2012 is £43 million.

The estimated total cost of the 234,055 ESA appeals in which the work capability assessment was a factor disposed of during the period April 2012 to March 2013 is £58 million.

These estimated costs were calculated by multiplying the average cost of an individual SSCS tribunal case in 2011-12 and 2012-13 respectively by the number of ESA appeals disposed of, in which the work capability assessment was a factor.

The increased cost is due to inflationary uplifts and also due to the expansion of the tribunal to deal with the increased volume of appeals received.

HMCTS constantly reviews and continually improves its administrative processes in order to drive down the costs of SSCS appeals.

Young Offenders

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many individuals held in secure children's homes have been convicted of crimes for their behaviour since entering the establishment in each of the last three years; [163766]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 231W

(2) how many individuals held in young offenders institutions have been convicted of further crimes for their behaviour since entering the establishment in each of the last three years; [163767]

(3) how many people currently held in a secure training centre have been convicted of further crimes for their behaviour since entering the establishment in each of the last three years. [163769]

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not all the specific circumstances of each case. The Youth Justice Board centrally collate data on individuals held in Secure Children's Homes, Secure Training Centres and Youth Offenders Institutions, but at present these two data sources are not matched. It is not therefore possible to identify the number of individuals who have been convicted of crimes for their behaviour whilst in the youth secure estate.

Prosecutions are brought about in circumstances where this is a proper and proportionate response. The Code for Crown Prosecutors states that Crown Prosecutors must consider the interests of the youth, amongst other public interest factors, when deciding whether a prosecution is needed. All criminal justice agencies, when dealing with youths, must have regard to the principal aim of the youth justice system which is to prevent offending by young persons.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 232W

Youth Custody: Barnsley

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of young offenders ordinarily resident in Barnsley East constituency have been given custodial sentences in the last three years. [160926]

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. This database holds information on offences provided by the statutes under which proceedings are brought but not all the specific circumstances of each case. Information on where a defendant resides is not included in the information collated centrally.

Youth Work

Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding his Department allocated for youth work in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement. [164083]

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice provides funding to a number of youth work programmes. These include contributions to education for young offenders, the Troubled Families programme, grants made by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) to youth offending teams (YOT) to develop good practice and commission research and YJB grants to other organisations.

YOTs reported working with 66,430 young people in 2011-12, a 48% reduction since 2008-09 and a reduction of 22% since 2010-11. The average youth custodial population has also fallen: from 2,040 in 2010-11 to 1,963 in 2011-12 and 1,561 in 2012-13 (a 23% reduction from 2010-11, figures for 2012-13 are provisional). It is against this backdrop that decisions relating to funding have been made.

Work and Pensions

Local Government Finance: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding (a) his Department and (b) each of the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible has allocated to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in each of the last five years. [167013]

Mr Hoban: The funding allocated by the Department, and our non-departmental public bodies, to Barnsley metropolitan borough council in each of the last five financial years is detailed in the following table:

2 Sep 2013 : Column 233W

2 Sep 2013 : Column 234W

Atos Healthcare

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many ATOS Healthcare full-time equivalent health professionals work on the Work Capability Assessment contract. [166550]

Mr Hoban: As at July 2013, Atos Healthcare have 907.7 full time equivalent Healthcare Professionals (HCP) working on Work Capability Assessments.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times he and Ministers in his Department have met ATOS Healthcare senior management to discuss the contract for delivering the work capability assessment since May 2010. [166554]

Mr Hoban: Ministers from this Department meet with Atos to discuss a range of topics. The Department publishes details of meetings held with external organisations and the information you have requested can be found on the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/search?g=dwp+ministers+meetinqs+with+ external+&tab=government-results

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many creditors to his Department owed more than £10,000 remained unpaid for more than (a) 30 days, (b) 45 days, (c) 60 days, (d) 75 days and (e) more than 90 days in each of the last three years. [166384]

Mr Hoban: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Disability Living Allowance

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the awareness of disability living allowance claimants of its replacement by personal independence payment. [166131]

Esther McVey: We want to ensure all disability living allowance (DLA) claimants, and those who support them, are aware of what personal independence payment (PIP) is and what it might mean for them.

With this in mind, the annual DLA uprating letters which were issued to 3 million existing DLA claimants during February and March contained background information about PIP, and details of claimants who will be affected when the changes would be introduced.

The uprating letter also included a link to the Gov.uk site. This site includes an online PIP checker which allows DLA claimants to see how they might be affected by the introduction of PIP by entering a few simple details. We have also published answers to the most common questions about PIP to help existing DLA claimants, as well as a PIP toolkit for support organisations and advisers. Information on PIP is also available on the DWP website. Feedback from stakeholder organisations and the volume of hits on these sites suggest good levels of overall awareness of PIP among DLA recipients.

Employment

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average number of weekly job applications submitted by each jobseeker each week in (a) Glasgow North West constituency, (b) Glasgow, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each of the last 24 months. [166133]

Mr Hoban: No such estimate has been made as this information is not routinely gathered.

Employment: Young People

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what support his Department provides to (a) young people aged 16 to 24 with cancer and (b) young people aged 16 to 24 with serious and complex long-term health conditions to assist access to and maintenance of employment and training opportunities; [165998]

(2) what his future plans are for support for (a) young people aged 16 to 24 with cancer and (b) young people aged 16 to 24 with serious and complex long-term health conditions in employment and training. [166000]

Esther McVey: This Department does not provide condition-based labour market regimes for specific illnesses. The Department's programmes, including its specialist disability employment programmes, aim to identify and meet the needs of the individual, including young people aged 16 to 24 with cancer.

This Government recognise the important role work experience can play as a route into employment. Access to Work already supports Youth Contract work experience and I announced on 16 July that £2 million from the Access to Work budget will be set aside to support disabled people to access a range of opportunities that help them get ready for employment.

These will include traineeships, sector-based work academies and supported internships, and will complement existing initiatives such as supported apprenticeships and individually arranged work experience. Specialist

2 Sep 2013 : Column 235W

disability employment training is also available to 16 to 24-year-old disabled people through Work Choice and residential training provision.

Going forward, the Department is developing an employment strategy for disabled people and those with health conditions and within this is looking specifically at employment and transitions for young disabled people. The strategy is scheduled for publication later in the year.

Food Banks

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) when he next plans to visit a food bank; [166807]

(2) what assessment he has made of the merits of recording on a regular basis the number of food bank vouchers issued by jobcentres; and if he will make a statement; [166808]

(3) what plans he has to discuss with representatives of groups operating food banks the reasons for recent trends in the level of food bank demand; and if he will make a statement. [166809]

Mr Hoban: Food banks are not part of the welfare system and statistics are not collected on the number of referrals to food banks or the reasons. There is no reliable evidence that welfare reforms are linked to increased use of food banks. Ministers do not have any immediate plans to visit a food bank or meet representatives of groups operating food banks.

Foster Care: Housing Benefit

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many current foster carers will be contacted during the research into the effect on the under-occupancy penalty on prospective foster carers. [166516]

Steve Webb: This information is not available.

In relation to the removal of the Spare Room Subsidy, subject to certain conditions registered foster carers are already allowed one additional bedroom under the size criteria.

The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education have committed to monitor the effect of the removal of the spare room subsidy on foster carers. Discussions are ongoing as to how this will be done, including who will conduct the relevant research.

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who is conducting the research into the effects of the under-occupancy penalty on prospective foster carers. [166517]

Steve Webb: In relation to the removal of the Spare Room Subsidy, subject to certain conditions registered foster carers are already allowed one additional bedroom under the size criteria.

The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education have committed to monitor the effect of the removal of the spare room subsidy on

2 Sep 2013 : Column 236W

foster carers. Discussions are ongoing as to how this will be done, including who will conduct the relevant research.

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish (a) the initial findings and (b) the final report of the research commissioned by his Department on the effects on its work of recent housing benefit reforms. [166518]

Steve Webb: The initial findings and the final report of the research will be published as departmental research reports and will be publicly available on the DWP website.

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department's research into the effect of the under-occupancy penalty on prospective foster carers, adopters and special guardians will be carried out (a) on a national basis and (b) in specific areas. [166521]

Steve Webb: In relation to the removal of the Spare Room Subsidy, subject to certain conditions registered foster carers are already allowed one additional bedroom under the size criteria.

In addition the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education have committed to monitor the effect of the removal of the spare room subsidy on foster carers, prospective adopters and special guardians. Discussions are ongoing as to how this will be done.

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who is conducting the research into the effect of the under-occupancy penalty on prospective adopters and special guardians. [166522]

Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education have committed to monitor the effect of the removal of the spare room subsidy on prospective adopters and special guardians. Discussion are ongoing as to how this will be done, including who will conduct the relevant research.

Health and Safety Executive

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what powers the Health and Safety Executive has to object to an approved planning consent should an issue of concern in their remit develop after approval is granted. [166421]

Mr Hoban: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)'s role in planning is advisory only; it cannot formally object to planning consents. As a statutory consultee, HSE provides advice to the relevant local authority on the risks of certain types of development in the vicinity of major hazard sites and pipelines. The local authority then weighs these risks against the other relevant planning considerations to reach a decision.

When a planning authority in Scotland is minded to grant planning permission against HSE's advice, the application is automatically referred to Scottish Ministers for a decision. HSE provides further safety advice to Scottish Ministers during this process. In England or

2 Sep 2013 : Column 237W

Wales, the planning system allows HSE to request a review by the relevant Minister, based on advice from a Planning Inquiry (‘call-in').

However, HSE exercises these powers very rarely and only in cases of exceptional public safety concern; requesting call-in only five times in the past 40 years.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what future sums he has earmarked for relief of hardship arising from the under-occupancy penalty. [166690]

Steve Webb: Additional funding of £35 mullion has been added this year specifically to support housing benefit claimants affected by the removal of the spare room subsidy in the social sector.

The £35 million funding consists of: £10 million transitional payments that will be distributed to councils; £5 million discretionary housing payment funding for the 21 least densely populated areas in the country to help fragile remote areas; and a further £20 million discretionary housing payment contingency funding.

This is in addition to the £155 million discretionary housing payment funding provided to councils this year. A further £120 million has provisionally been allocated for 2014-15.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance he has issued to local authorities in respect of the priority to be given to competing applicants for help from hardship funds allocated to relieve the effects of the under-occupancy penalty. [166691]

Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions issued revised guidance on 1 April 2013. This included a good practice guide which provided examples as to when a discretionary housing payment may be appropriate.

However as the scheme is discretionary the guidance reminded local authorities that each individual case should be determined on its own merits rather than on a set of pre-defined criteria.

Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in St Helens South and Whiston constituency have been affected by the under-occupancy penalty; and how many such people are disabled. [167067]

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available at a local authority level.

Estimated numbers of affected claimants in Great Britain and region, and estimated numbers of disabled affected claimants in Great Britain are available in the Equality Impact Assessment at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/174973/eia-social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011.pdf

Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the average change in benefit for those in St Helens and Whiston constituency affected by the under-occupancy penalty. [167068]

2 Sep 2013 : Column 238W

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available at a local authority level.

Estimated numbers of the average weekly HB reduction per affected claimant for Great Britain and region are available in the Equality Impact Assessment at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/174973/eia-social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011.pdf

Mr Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of people in work that are adversely affected by the under-occupancy penalty. [167079]

Steve Webb: DWP estimate the number of housing benefit claimants affected by the under-occupancy changes in the social rented sector from April 2013 is about 140,000 where either the claimant or their partner will be in work.

Note:

Estimate is rounded to the nearest 20,000.

Source:

Policy Simulation Model (PSM) output based on family Resources Survey (FRS) data from 2009-10.

Jobcentre Plus

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the most recent ratio of Jobcentre Plus advisors to claimants is. [166413]

Mr Hoban: The following table contains the most recent available Jobcentre Plus adviser to claimant ratios.

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been employed by Jobcentre Plus in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the number of such staff in 2015-16. [166414]

Mr Hoban: The number of staff employed by Jobcentre Plus/DWP Operations over the last five years are:

The above figures are whole time equivalent which count part-time workers as a proportion of their full-time counterparts dependent on the number of hours they work.

The figures are taken as at 31 March of each year.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 239W

Due to an organisational restructure in 2011, Jobcentre Plus, as an organisation within the Department for Work and Pensions, ceased to exist. Therefore the figures for the last two years represent DWP Operations as a whole and are therefore not directly comparable.

The DWP Operations figures would include staff that were previously in the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service Directorate. Also, some corporate functions that were within Jobcentre Plus, for example Finance, are now in their own Directorate and so are not included in the Operations figures.

With regards to staffing levels in 2015-16, it is not standard practice to provide forecast information as this is usually indicative, for internal management purposes only and subject to change during the financial year. Forecasts are reviewed regularly as part of a continuous planning process.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what monthly statistics his Department collates on the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants who have been temporarily barred from claiming in (a) each local authority area and (b) each parliamentary constituency; [166406]

(2) how many Jobseeker’s allowance claimants were temporarily barred from claiming on a monthly basis in the last year for which figures are available by (a) local authority area and (b) constituency; and what the average length of bar was. [166899]

Mr Hoban: Statistics on the number of jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) claimants who have been sanctioned in (a) each local authority area and (b) each parliamentary constituency in each month from April 2000 to May 2012 will be placed in the Library.

Information on the average length of sanction is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation work has been done to determine the capability of Jobcentre Plus to manage a change to weekly sign on for jobseeker's allowance claimants. [166412]

Mr Hoban: The spending review announced new measures to support people to move into work, to improve welfare spending control and ensure that the welfare system remains affordable. One of the measures announced included introducing weekly signing for around half of all jobseeker's allowance claimants. This policy is in development and we will be fully assessing the change to mitigate any adverse impacts.

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what statistics his Department holds on the length of time a temporary bar is in force for jobseeker's allowance claimants in each (a) local authority area and (b) parliamentary constituency in each month. [166479]

Mr Hoban: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 240W

Occupational Health

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2013, Official Report, columns 58-9W, on occupational health, who the members of the advisory group on the new health and work assessment and advisory service are. [166506]

Mr Hoban: The group consists of two academics, six health care professionals and seven delegates from professional bodies. The group does not have any formal involvement with the project to set up the Health and Work Assessment and Advisory Service, nor are they involved in the governance processes. They provide advice alongside stakeholder engagement events.

Offshore Industry: Safety

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he last discussed the safety of the Forties oil pipeline with the Health and Safety Executive. [166426]

Mr Hoban: This is a matter within HSE's competence and I have had no such specific discussion.

Pension Credit: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those eligible for pension credit in (a) Newport East constituency and (b) Wales claim this benefit. [166428]

Steve Webb: The Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-up report covers Great Britain for the financial year 2009-10. It provides caseload and expenditure estimates of take-up for income support and employment and support allowance (income-related), pension credit, housing benefit (including local housing allowance), council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance (income-based). The latest release updates the statistics previously released on 10 June 2010. The figures are available online and can be found here:

http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=irb

Estimates of take-up are not available for 2010-11 or 2011-12 nor are they sufficiently robust to present at Geographies below Great Britain. As such, estimates are not available for (a) Newport East constituency and (b) Wales.

Personal Independence Payment

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the influence in decision-making of the advocate in personal independence payment benefit assessments for people with cognitive impairments who lack insight into their condition. [166918]

Esther McVey: Decisions on entitlement to personal independence payment are made by a departmental decision maker. Decision makers will consider all of the available evidence when making their decision. Such evidence may include the claim form, any additional evidence that the claimant has provided, any further evidence that the assessment provider has obtained, and the report from the assessment provider.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 241W

The PIP assessment makes greater use of appropriate evidence than did the assessment for disability living allowance, including evidence from claimants, from supporting professionals and from the face-to-face consultations that most individuals will attend. The face-to-face consultation gives the claimant the opportunity to put across their own views of the impact of their impairment. Individuals are encouraged to bring with them a relation, friend or a professional who supports them. We recognise that information given by their companion can be useful, particularly in cases where the claimant may lack insight into their condition, understate the challenges they face or have difficulty communicating.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons the mobility criteria for personal independence payment has been changed to 50 metres instead of 20 metres. [167022]

Esther McVey: We had always intended that being unable to walk more than 50 metres should lead to entitlement to some rate of personal independence payment's mobility component. However under the second draft of the assessment criteria being unable to walk 50 metres did not automatically entitle claimants to the enhanced rate. Within the group who could walk up to 50 metres we wanted those who face the greatest barriers to mobility to receive the enhanced rate and the remainder the standard rate. In the second draft of the assessment criteria we differentiated by the type of aid and appliance an individual needed. In the final version of the criteria we differentiate by distance, which we feel is clearer.

In the final draft, individuals who cannot walk 20 metres can be certain they will receive the enhanced rate, regardless of whether they need an aid or appliance. Individuals who can walk distances longer than 20 metres could still receive the enhanced rate, depending on whether they can do so safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable time period.

Personal Independence Payment: Paisley

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who will be affected by the move to personal independence payment in Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency. [166684]

Esther McVey: The available information on personal independence payment (PIP) is published in the Reassessments and Impacts briefing note. This can be found on the gov.uk website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/180964/pip-reassessments-and-impacts.pdf

2 Sep 2013 : Column 242W

Information on current disability living allowance caseloads at a parliamentary constituency level can be found on the Department's website at:

http://83.244.183.180/100pc/tabtool.html

Guidance for users is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/203439/tab-tool-guidance.pdf

Personal Independence Payment: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date he expects personal independence payments to be implemented in Wales. [166687]

Esther McVey: Personal independence payment (PIP) was implemented nationally across Great Britain to new claimants on 10 June.

From October 2013, existing DLA recipients will be invited to claim PIP (where they report a change in their care or mobility needs, where their fixed, term awards are coming to an end or where they reach age 16). However, the majority of DLA recipients will not be invited to claim PIP until October 2015, in line with our published plans for reassessment available on the internet:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/180964/pip-reassessments-and-impacts.pdf

Regulation

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the title is of each regulation his Department (a) introduced and (b) revoked in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013 to date; and if he will make a statement. [165923]

Mr Hoban: Information listing the title of each regulation that the Department for Work and Pensions has made in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013 to date will be placed in the Library. This information includes statutory instruments processed via the Privy Council Office.

The following table lists the title of each regulation that the Department has revoked in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013 to date (information for the Health and Safety Executive is provided in a separate table). For the purpose of this response we have restricted our searches to regulations made within the relevant periods that revoke entire sets of regulations (to do otherwise would incur disproportionate cost). Revoked regulations are listed by the date that the revoking instrument was made, not the date revocation comes into effect, so revocation of some of the regulations listed is pending but has not yet come into force.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 243W

2 Sep 2013 : Column 244W

2 Sep 2013 : Column 245W

2 Sep 2013 : Column 246W

Remploy: Abertillery

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on how many of the former workers of Remploy Abertillery made redundant in August 2012 have subsequently secured full-time employment; and what the duration of that full-time employment has been in each case. [165262]

Esther McVey: Of the 20 Remploy employees made redundant in August 2012, 11 have secured and remain in full-time employment, two have retired, two are on sabbatical, a further four are claiming ESA/JSA, two of which are on Work Choice undertaking training and other activities aimed at moving them closer to employment. One former employee has not registered to use the Job Centre’s services; we are therefore unable to say what they are now doing.

Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many senior civil servants left his Department and public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payments was. [164409]

Mr Hoban: The number of senior civil servants that left DWP and its public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in the financial years April 2010 to March 2011, April 2011 to March 2012 and April 2012 to March 2013 and the cost are shown in the table. All were approved under contractual and Civil Service Compensation Scheme terms.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 247W

During the three-year period, which included a restructure of the Department, the SCS has reduced in size by around 30% with a similar percentage reduction in the SCS pay bill since 2009-10.

The Civil Service Compensation Scheme was reformed in 2010. Under the previous terms there could be costs extending for up to 10 years from a departure, while under the reformed scheme all of the costs fall within the year of departure.

The reformed scheme allows for greater distinction between voluntary and compulsory exits and is designed to encourage voluntary rather than compulsory departures.

Figures for 2010-11 and 2011-12 were included as part of the published Annual Report and Accounts.

Figures for 2012-13 will be included as part of the 2012-13 Annual Report and Accounts.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 248W

Social Fund: Merseyside

Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for a (a) budgeting loan and (b) crisis loan in (i) St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council area and (ii) Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council area were (A) made and (B) approved in each month since April 2013. [167069]

Steve Webb: Information on the number of budgeting loans and crisis loans made in 2013-14 is not available at borough council level. The lowest level breakdown of data available is by social fund budget area. St. Helens and Knowsley borough councils are part of the Greater Liverpool and Cheshire social fund budget area. Table 1 shows the total number of applications and awards made in this budget area between April 2013 and June 2013.

The crisis loan scheme closed on 31 March 2013 but a number of applications and awards were processed in April 2013. These are the crisis loan figures shown in Table 1. Note that awards are not always made on the same day that the application was received; consequently, the higher number of crisis loan awards than applications in April 2013 is due to applications received at the end of March not being processed until April.

Social Security Benefits

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many claimants affected by the benefits cap were assessed as capable of work on 1 April (a) 2012 and (b) 2013; [166390]

(2) how many and what proportion of claimants affected by the benefits cap were actively seeking work on 1 April (a) 2012 and (b) 2013. [166391]

Mr Hoban: The benefit cap was not in operation on either 1 April 2012 or 1 April 2013. Phased implementation in four London boroughs started on 15 April 2013 and national roll out started 15 July 2013 and will be complete by September 2013.

In the Impact Assessment published in July 2012 we estimated that 34% of the cases potentially affected by the cap when fully implemented will involve someone on jobseeker's allowance so required to look for work as a condition for receiving benefit. In addition, we estimated that 25% of the cases potentially affected by the cap when fully implemented will involve someone on employment support allowance and assessed as having limited capability for work.

This Impact Assessment is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/207954/benefit-cap-wr2011-ia.pdf

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in receipt of benefits are exempt from the benefits cap. [166477]

Mr Hoban: From the data available in June 2013, we estimate around 80,000 households are in receipt of benefits above the level of the cap but are exempt from the benefit cap.

Exemptions from the benefit cap include households with someone in receipt of the following benefits: disability living allowance (including a child in receipt), its replacement personal independence payment, attendance allowance, industrial injuries benefits (and equivalent payments made as part of a War Disablement Pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme) or the support component of employment and support allowance. In addition, households with someone who is entitled to working tax credit are excluded. War widows and widowers are also exempt, reinforcing our commitment to those serving in or who have served in our armed forces.

There is also a grace period of 39 weeks during which time the cap will not apply to households where the claimant, or if applicable their partner, has worked for 50 weeks out of the 52 weeks preceding their last day of work.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 249W

Dr Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people affected by the benefits cap who are in receipt of (a) disability related benefits and (b) carer's allowance in each parliamentary constituency. [166531]

Mr Hoban: The benefit cap does not apply where the claimant or the claimant's partner or a dependent child is receiving disability living allowance or where the claimant or the claimant's partner is receiving employment and support allowance which includes a support component, an industrial injuries benefit, an attendance allowance, a war pension, an armed forces independence payment or a personal independence payment.

Around 4,000 households in receipt of carers allowance are estimated to be affected by the benefit cap. This figure is consistent with the ad hoc statistics release of the number of households we estimate to be affected by the benefit cap published in April 2013, which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/196895/Ben_Cap_Updated_Estimate.pdf

It is not possible to provide a breakdown by parliamentary constituency as in all areas fewer than 100 households affected, and so all values are suppressed as additional disclosure control has been applied to these areas.

Estimates 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. The Department has made extensive contacts with households who are likely to be affected by the cap and we are offering advice and support through Jobcentre Plus, including, where appropriate, early access to the Work Programme before the cap is introduced.

Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the potential total savings to the public purse of setting a benefits cap at (a) £26,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £19,000, (d) £18,000 and (e) £17,000. [166847]

Mr Hoban: The potential total savings to the public purse of setting a benefits cap at (a) £26,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £19,000, (d) £18,000 and (e) £17,000 are outlined as follows:

These estimates have been calculated in a consistent way with those already estimated and approved by Office for Budget Responsibility.

Social Security Benefits: British Nationals Abroad

Sir Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish his response to the European Commission's letter requesting clarification

2 Sep 2013 : Column 250W

of the UK Government's position on the cumulative conditions that apply for waiving the past presence test in cross-border situations. [166585]

Mr Hoban: This matter is currently under discussion with the European Commission. Correspondence between the Commission and the member states on such cases is generally regarded by both parties as confidential between them. This approach recognises that preserving the space for the conduct of frank and effective discussions and negotiation best ensures that Community law is implemented and upheld.

Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to Article 24(2) of Directive 2004/38/EC, for what reasons EU nationals residing in the UK as jobseekers are allowed to access income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit; and if he will make a statement. [166906]

Mr Hoban: We have a legal duty to provide support to people who come to this country, in line with our national and international obligations.

Under EU law an EEA national has a right to reside in another member state as a jobseeker for as long as they can provide evidence that they are continuing to seek employment and that they have a genuine chance of being engaged. Although there is no obligation under EU law to provide social assistance to jobseekers, there is an obligation to provide benefits which facilitate access to the labour market.

EEA national jobseekers are qualified persons under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 and have a right to reside for as long as they are a jobseeker. They can claim income-based jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit if they satisfy the habitual residence test.

Council Tax benefit ceased 1 April 2013 and was replaced by a new council tax reduction scheme which is the responsibility of local authorities.

Unemployment Benefits

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households whose only income is out-of-work benefits with a higher household income than households with one person or more in employment. [167033]

Mr Hoban: There are no households whose only income was from out-of-work benefits and who received a higher household income than the median income of households with one or more people in employment, as derived from the Family Resources Survey.

This may be because only a small number of households receive only out-of-work benefits. Households receiving out-of-work benefits may also be entitled to other state support.

Out-of-work benefits income refers to jobseeker’s allowance, employment support allowance, and income support.

Median income refers to median household income adjusted for household size and composition (equivalised).

2 Sep 2013 : Column 251W

Unemployment: Older People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the support provided by Jobcentre Plus to jobseekers aged over 50 with prior senior managerial experience. [166883]

Mr Hoban: Although no specific assessment has been made in relation to the support provided by Jobcentre Plus to jobseekers aged 50 with prior senior managerial experience, an evaluation of the Jobcentre Plus offer was commissioned in late 2011. The Department has been using the research to help ensure that the offer successfully delivers to all claimants

Furthermore, work is being carried out with districts to enable them to make better use of the 50+ module within the support contract. This module is an employability and job search workshop aimed at unemployed professionals but tailored for 50+ customers.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department provides to Jobcentre Plus staff on assisting jobseekers aged over 50 into employment. [166889]

Mr Hoban: Advisers have generic guidance and learning on how to provide individual jobseekers with the help they need to give themselves best prospects of employment.

This is supplemented by a ‘Supporting Older Worker’ intranet site, which pulls together relevant information such as the support available to help older workers move into work, labour market statistics, research into older workers, adviser training, case studies, good news stories, best practice and other initiatives.

It also provides links to the Older Workers Statistical Information Booklet and The Age and Employment Network's ‘Survey of Jobseeker's Aged 50+’.

Universal Credit

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the current ratio of staff to claimants is in the universal credit pilot areas; [166537]

(2) how many people are currently in receipt of universal credit. [166539]

Mr Hoban: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I provided to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr Byrne, on 6 June 2013, Official Report, column 1253W.

The Department is working to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity. We intend to publish official statistics on pathfinder areas in autumn 2013 and on nationally implemented universal credit from autumn 2014.

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the timetable is for the complete national roll-out of universal credit. [166538]

Mr Hoban: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr Byrne) on 3 June 2013, Official Report, column 1052W.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 252W

Universal credit will progressively roll-out in a carefully managed and controlled way from October 2013 with all those who are entitled to UC claiming the new benefit by 2017.

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of additional new claims as a result of the universal credit roll-out to six hub jobcentres. [166543]

Mr Hoban: The exact number of claims will depend on local economic conditions, but it will allow us to expand our ability to test and learn as we progressively roll out.

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the costs of (a) purchase and maintenance of the 6,000 new computers and associated software and (b) staff training associated with the roll-out of universal credit announced by his Department on 10 July 2013. [166579]

Mr Hoban: We are actively considering the commercial options for the supply of the hardware and software to support this service and as such all figures are commercial in confidence. The new PCs will increase digital access in our local Jobcentres, so that our customers can more easily access a wide range of on-line services offered by DWP, not solely universal credit. This supports our move to digital service provision.

We are also introducing some aspects of universal credit early across all of our Jobcentres. We estimate we will need to re-train 20,000 staff to introduce the claimant commitment across 36 districts. Cost of staff training will include delivery and backfill costs while staff are away on training. The costs and timescales remain subject to review as the detailed plans for this next phase of implementation are worked through.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provisions will be made for those wanting to claim universal credit through the medium of Welsh. [166688]

Mr Hoban: We will be providing UC in Welsh and English in line with our Welsh Language scheme, and we are looking into the detail of how this will be done.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 July 2013, Official Report, column 660W, on universal credit, whether he expects any further jobcentres to take new claims for universal credit before April 2014. [166806]

Mr Hoban: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 16 July 2013, Official Report, column 660W.

We remain committed to delivering universal credit by 2017. Between October 2013 and March 2014 six more Jobcentres will be taking new claims for universal credit. This means we will be testing UC in each region across the country. This will significantly expand our ability to test and learn as we progressively roll out universal credit. The exact number of claims will depend on local economic conditions.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 253W

We will make further details of our plans available in the autumn.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will carry out an impact assessment of the introduction of housing costs contributions under universal credit. [166999]

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Bradford East (Mr Ward), on 6 June 2013, Official Report, columns 1252-54W.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the universal credit IT systems will take into account the planned uprating of the national minimum wage from 1 October 2013; and if he will make a statement. [167027]

Mr Hoban: Development work is currently taking place to ensure that there are systems/processes in place to accommodate the change to national minimum wage from 1 October 2013.

Universal Credit: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what date he expects universal credit to be implemented in Wales (a) as a pilot scheme and (b) in full. [166686]

Mr Hoban: As part of our plan for progressive rollout, Shotton Jobcentre is one of six new sites which will begin dealing with universal credit claims during 2013-14. We are now working with partners locally to agree an implementation plan and go live date.

UNUM

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Unum Ltd or any subsidiary companies of Unum Ltd had a role in designing the work capability assessment; what relationship there has been between his Department and Unum over the last 10 years; what payments have been made by his Department to any Unum companies in that time period; and for what reason this question originally tabled by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion on this matter on 23 April 2013 did not receive an answer. [166645]

Mr Hoban: I can confirm two Unum employees, a doctor and an occupational therapist, were part of the technical working groups which carried out reviews of the personal capability assessment. As with all members of the technical working group they were appointed as recognised experts in benefit assessment and in supporting return to work for people with disability.

The Department consults on a range of policy issues and with various external bodies. As the Department does not maintain a central register of all meetings with external organisations, I am unable to provide detailed information for the last 10 years of it's interactions with Unum. However, the Department has a record of two meetings with Unum officials since May 2010. In October 2010, a Unum representative met with the Minister for Welfare Reform and Departmental officials as part of a delegation from the UK Rehabilitation Council. Further to this on 14 February 2011, Unum representatives met

2 Sep 2013 : Column 254W

with departmental officials as part of Professor Harrington's Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment.

Over the last 10 years, the Department has made payments of circa £216,000 to Unum companies.

The reason the hon. Member did not receive an answer on this matter in April 2013 was because named day questions cannot be answered before the named day given by the Member and since the named day for the hon. Member's question number 153540 was 29 April 2013, by which date the House had prorogued, it could not therefore be answered.

Welfare State: Reform

Mr Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the effect of the measures in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 on the economy of (a) St Helens South and Whiston constituency and (b) the North West. [167066]

Mr Hoban: An assessment of the effect of the measures in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 on the economy of St Helens South and Whiston constituency and the North West is not available.

The Government produce impact assessments which provide detailed information on the impact of policy measures on benefit recipients.

In addition the Government regularly produce analysis of the cumulative impact of all coalition changes, including welfare, on households across the income distribution. This information is published at every Budget and other major fiscal events, in the interests of transparency. However this analysis is unable to be broken down to lower geographies. The most recent update was published with the spending review on 26 June.

The publication of cumulative impacts is a coalition initiative and was not produced by the previous Administration.

Work Capability Assessment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people experiencing a mental health condition undertook the work capability assessment in each year between 2008 and 2012. [166505]

Mr Hoban: In November 2012 the Department released an ad-hoc statistical publication which breaks down the outcomes of all initial work capability assessment (WCA) outcomes by physical and mental health condition. Table 2b in the spreadsheet accompanying the publication gives the WCA outcomes for claimants with a mental health condition by the month the WCA was completed, for assessments held up to May 2012, and can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223138/esa_wca_outcomes_physical_mental_health_condition.xls

Further information is available in the publication which can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-work-capability-assessment-outcomes-by-physical-and-mental-health-condition

2 Sep 2013 : Column 255W

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons his Department had a £248 million underspend on the Work programme in 2012-13; and in what alternative ways this was spent. [158175]

Mr Hoban: The Commons Committee Report, to which the question relates, notes that the Government spent some £248 million less on the Work programme than anticipated in 2012-13. The level of spending depends on the number of job outcomes, sustainment payments and attachment feeds paid.

2 Sep 2013 : Column 256W

As happens across Government, any underspends at the end of the financial year are returned to Her Majesty's Treasury.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department paid in (a) attachment, (b) job outcome and (c) sustainment payments to Work programme providers in each month since June 2011. [164332]

Mr Hoban: The tables show how much the Department paid in (a) attachment, (b) job outcome and (c) sustainment payments to Work programme providers in each month since June 2011.

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department takes to (a) provide independent inspection of Work Programme contractors and (b) collect feedback from Work Programme clients. [166601]

Mr Hoban: Work Programme contractors are paid for supporting clients into sustained employment. Any clients dissatisfied with the support they receive from their provider can access a complaints process that leads ultimately to the Independent Case Examiner. The Department has put in place robust arrangements to assess the validity of job outcome claims, and these arrangements have been independently assessed by the National Audit Office. Beyond that, independent inspection of the Work Programme is not necessary or appropriate.

Feedback from clients is collected as part of the formal evaluation of the Work Programme commissioned by the Department, which will report in due course.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged over 50 who have been referred to the Work Programme since June 2011 were identified as being from an ethnic minority background; and how many have secured a sustained job outcome to date. [166884]

Mr Hoban: Statistics on how many people aged over 50 who have been referred to the Work programme were identified as being from an ethnic minority background, and how many have secured a sustained job outcome from June 2011 to 31 March 2013 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/series/work-programme-statistics--2

Guidance for users is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged over 50 who have been referred to the Work Programme since June 2011 (a) received a sanction while on the Work Programme, (b) disputed the sanction and (c) had a sanction overturned. [166890]

Mr Hoban: Information on non-JSA claimants and JSA claimants, for reasons other than failing to participate, who have been referred for a sanction after being referred to the Work Programme is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Statistics on how many jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants aged over 50 who have been referred to the Work Programme (a) received a sanction while on the Work Programme, (b) disputed the sanction and (c) had a sanction overturned from 1 June 2011 to 21 October 2012 are given in the following table:

2 Sep 2013 : Column 257W