Unpaid Fines
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has written off in unpaid fines in each year since 2010-11. [170405]
Mr Vara: HM Courts and Tribunals Service (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. HMCTS actively pursues all outstanding fines until certain they cannot be collected. Last year we collected £284.5 million, a record high—£5.19 million or 2% higher than the previous year, and £2.2 million or 1% more than the previous record high in 2010-11. The outstanding balance of financial penalties reduced by £17.8 million (3%) during the 2012-13 financial year.
The amounts of financial impositions administratively cancelled and legally cancelled in each year since 2010-11 are set out in the following table:
| Amount legally cancelled (£) | Amount administratively cancelled (£) | |
It is not possible to identify the amounts written off for just the fine element. The amounts above therefore include all elements of financial penalties (excluding confiscation orders): fines, costs, compensation and victim surcharge. The amounts cancelled in a particular year can relate to impositions from that year or any previous year.
Financial penalties are only administratively cancelled after all attempts to collect the amount outstanding have been made, and in accordance with strict cancellation criteria. These penalties can be written back on to the system if more information is found—for instance, a new address for the offender.
Legal cancellations can be applied after the case has been reconsidered by a judge or magistrate. Typically, legal cancellations are used where a case has been reopened and the defendant has been found not guilty,
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following the presentation of additional information. Legal cancellations can be full or partial remittances of financial penalties.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has carried out a fundamental review of financial penalty accounts, actively targeting accounts to achieve compliance at the earliest point, as well as tackling old accounts, and administratively cancelling them where there is no realistic chance of collection because they do not have enough information to trace the debtors. This explains the increase in the value of administrative cancellations seen in the figures.
This enabled HMCTS to focus resources on increasing collections on accounts which can be enforced, resulting in the record high level of collection in 2012-13.
Witnesses: Children
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many registered intermediaries were appointed for children in cases involving (a) sexual offences and (b) other offences in the last three years for which data are available at (i) pre-police interview, (ii) pre-trial and (iii) trial broken down by (A) age, (B) geography and (C) impairment group. [170443]
Damian Green: During the period of 1 August 2009 to 8 October 2013 there have been a total of 2,435 appointments of a registered intermediary for children (0-17 years). Of that number, 1,722 were in cases involving sexual offences and 713 were in cases involving all other types of offences.
| Stage of criminal case | (a) Sexual offences | (b) All other offences |
Data is not collated separately for the pre-police interview and pre-trial stages of a criminal case.
The following tables provide a breakdown of that information by (A) age, (B) geography and (C) impairment group.
| (A) Age | (a) Sexual offences | (b) All other offences |
| (B) Geography | (a) Sexual offences | (b) All other offences |
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| (C) Impairment group | (a) Sexual offences | (b) All other offences |
|
Mental health, learning disabilities and physical disabilities | ||
Scotland
Energy: Prices
Mr McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Scotland on capping energy bills in that country; and if he will make a statement. [171393]
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David Mundell: The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have had no recent discussions with the First Minister on capping energy bills in Scotland.
High Speed 2
Mr McKenzie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport and Ministers in the Scottish Government on the extension of high-speed rail to Scotland. [171389]
David Mundell: Scotland Office Ministers and officials are in frequent contact with colleagues in DFT on the plans for HS2 and the benefits it will bring to Scotland.
DFT and the Scotland Office are working closely with Transport Scotland on this and Scottish Government Ministers are closely engaged in this process.
The Guardian
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on advertising with (a)The Guardian newspaper, (b)The Guardian website and (c)The Guardian Media Group in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13. [171556]
David Mundell: The Scotland Office did not incur any expenditure on advertising with (a)The Guardian newspaper, (b)The Guardian website and (c)The Guardian Media Group in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13.
Transport
Freight Transport Association
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions his Department has asked the Freight Transport Association or its staff to represent the Department at stakeholder meetings; and what steps he has taken in those cases to ensure that there is no conflict of interest. [171500]
Mr Goodwill: The Freight Transport Association (FTA) was appointed to undertake the role of the UK Short Sea Promotion Centre as part of it taking over responsibility and funding for Freight by Water in November 2010, a consortium of interests seeking to increase the amount of freight carried by ship and barge. Part of the role of the Promotion Centre is to attend meetings of the European Commission regarding short-sea and coastal shipping policy and the movement of freight by inland waterway. Officials from the Department for Transport also attended these meetings, until 2012. Since then, given that the FTA attends in any case to represent UK industry, FTA has been the sole UK representative at four meetings relating to European waterborne freight issues.
High Speed 2
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the economic effect of phase 2 of High Speed 2 on (a) West Bromwich East constituency and (b) the Black Country area will be. [171413]
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Mr Goodwill: HS2 Ltd recently published a report they had commissioned from KPMG evaluating the potential impact of HS2 on productivity and business location. Although the report does not look at the effects on West Bromwich East and Black Country specifically, it estimates that the HS2 Y-network as a whole could generate productivity benefits of between £1.5 billion and £3.1 billion per annum for the West Midlands region.
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the made of the effects on Northern Ireland of the development of the High Speed 2 rail network. [171581]
Mr Goodwill: The benefits brought about by HS2 will be felt right across the UK. Due to Northern Ireland's specific geographical offshore location to Great Britain no detailed assessment has been made of the benefits of High Speed Rail in respect of Northern Ireland specifically.
Railways: Birmingham
Mrs Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the total number of passengers travelling between Birmingham and (a) Manchester, (b) Leeds and (c) Wigan by rail during an average week day. [171344]
Stephen Hammond: Though some estimates for journeys such as these have been produced for departmental purposes, these estimates are not available for publication as the underlying data belong to the train operators and are considered commercially confidential.
Railways: West Midlands
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Virgin Trains on the future of direct train services to London from (a) Sandwell and Dudley and (b) Wolverhampton railway stations; and if he will make a statement. [171417]
Stephen Hammond: Virgin Trains will, from the December 2013 timetable change date, combine the London Euston to Wolverhampton service with its Birmingham New Street to Scotland service. This will provide a through service from London Euston, to Birmingham New Street, Sandwell and Dudley, Wolverhampton and Scotland, providing improved direct journey opportunities from Milton Keynes, Coventry, Birmingham International and Sandwell and Dudley to stations between Crewe and Glasgow/Edinburgh. This service will continue to provide, broadly, an hourly direct London Euston to Sandwell and Dudley and Wolverhampton service throughout the week.
Severn Tunnel
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Welsh Government on the closure of the Severn tunnel on 26-27 October 2013 for engineering works and the economic effect of this on the two events scheduled to take place in the Welsh capital that weekend. [171335]
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Stephen Hammond: No formal representation has been made to the Department from the Welsh Government about the closure of the Severn tunnel on 26-27 October 2013 for engineering works.
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the postponement of planned engineering works taking place on 26-27 October 2013 that will have a negative effect on (a) the Rugby League World Cup opening ceremony, (b) the World Music Expo and (c) other events in Cardiff. [171349]
Stephen Hammond: The planning and programming of essential engineering works on the national rail network is a matter for Network Rail and the train operators, subject to the oversight of the independent Office of Rail Regulation. The Department understands from Network Rail that it has worked closely with stakeholders, including train operators and the Millennium Stadium, to minimise the impact of the track renewal works in the Severn tunnel, including over the weekend of 26-27 October. These works have been planned for over two years, and postponement would result in longer term disruption for passengers using this vital link.
When the tunnel is closed, trains between Cardiff and London Paddington will continue to operate, diverted via Gloucester, though this will extend the journey time. Routes from Birmingham and Manchester to Cardiff will remain open as usual.
Shipping: Training
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the increase in annual funding to 2015-16 announced for the Support for Maritime Training scheme will be spent on (a) officer cadet and (b) ratings training; and how many new (i) officer and (ii) ratings places will be created in each year as a result. [171212]
Stephen Hammond: I anticipate that the increase in annual funding in the Support for Maritime Training scheme will be spent on officer cadet training and will fund an additional 200-220 officer trainees.
Following discussions with representative bodies for the maritime industries I intend to seek evidence about the value of rating training in deciding whether any proportion of the additional funding should be made available to train additional ratings.
Advertising: The Guardian
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on advertising with (a)The Guardian newspaper, (b)The Guardian website and (c)The Guardian Media Group in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13. [171548]
Stephen Hammond: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Recruitment, statutory public notice and public information campaign advertising is handled through specialist media buying agencies and information on the media titles used and their owners is not held centrally. A search by the central Department and its Executive agencies identified no direct payments to The Guardian newspaper, The Guardian website or The Guardian Media Group.
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Treasury
Conditions of Employment
Andy Sawford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the a) median and b) inter-quartile range of hours worked each week by employees on zero hours contracts is. [169907]
Mr Hurd: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, dated October 2013:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the a) median and b) inter-quartile range of hours worked each week by employees on zero hours contracts is. (169907)
The requested information is not available. Information regarding people working on zero hours contracts is available from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). However, full estimates of the total number of people in employment on such contracts are not available from this source. This is, in part, due to reporting error as respondents may fail to identify their type of employment contract correctly. This prevents reliable estimates being produced for working hours.
From autumn 2013, one of ONS's large-scale monthly business surveys will include some questions on zero-hours contracts so as to obtain robust data directly from employers. These will be asked on a quarterly basis with the first results expected to be published in early 2014.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the take-up of the Help to Buy scheme on new and first time homebuyers in (a) the eastern region and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [171447]
Sajid Javid: The Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme is available throughout the UK. The scheme will support potential borrowers who can afford the repayments on a high LTV mortgage, but are unable to save up for the large deposits currently required in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The Government have made £12 billion of guarantees available, which is sufficient to support up to £130 billion of high loan-to-value mortgages across the UK.
Personal Income: Insurance
Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate his Department has made of the number of people in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK who have income protection insurance policies; [171418]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the number of people in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK who have private health insurance policies. [171422]
Sajid Javid:
The Government do not routinely collect statistics on the proportion of people who have income protection insurance policies or private health insurance policies. However, according to 2012 statistics compiled
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by the Association of British Insurers, 3,164,000 people were covered by income protection insurance in the UK (including 1,891,000 people covered by a group scheme set up by their employer) and 3,222,000 health insurance policies was in force in the UK covering 5,612,000 people. There is no available regional breakdown of these statistics.
River Mersey: Dredging
Mr Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer against what criteria the application of Sefton Borough Council for a grant for dredging the River Mersey was judged. [170996]
Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
A grant of £35 million was made to Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, in partnership with Sefton council, as part of Round 2 of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF).
The RGF is a competitive fund and has two main objectives:
To encourage private sector enterprise by providing support for projects with significant potential for economic growth and create additional sustainable private sector employment; and
To support in particular those areas and communities that are currently dependent on the public sector to make the transition to sustainable private sector led growth and prosperity.
All bids to the RGF must demonstrate their alignment against the five assessment criteria of the fund:
Creating sustainable private sector growth;
Rebalancing the economy;
Additionality;
Value for money; and
State Aid compliance.
All applications to RGF are considered on a competitive basis. Ministers receive advice from an Independent Advisory Panel, chaired by my noble Friend Lord Heseltine.
Women and Equalities
Executives: Females
Mr McKenzie: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent discussions she had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on the number of women employed at a senior boardroom level by companies based in Scotland. [171392]
Jo Swinson: I have had no recent discussions on this issue with Ministers in the Scottish Government regarding companies specifically located in Scotland.
The Government have put in place policies to support women to advance in the workplace and we also believe that this agenda should be business led. We have been working closely with businesses and key stakeholders throughout the UK to help drive forward Lord Davies's recommendations from his 2011 report with the aim of meeting his target of 25% women on boards by 2015 and to ensure that businesses recognise the business and economic benefits which comes with having a more diverse board.
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Work and Pensions
Employment Schemes: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the likely impact of the Help to Work scheme on young unemployed people in Peterborough constituency; and if he will make a statement. [171446]
Esther McVey: No estimate of the impact of the Help to Work scheme on young unemployed people in Peterborough has been made. We tested two elements of the Help to Work scheme in pilots in 2012: the Jobcentre Plus-led Mandatory Intervention Regime, and Community Work Placements. There was a significant positive impact on benefit receipt and soft outcomes like motivation, confidence and ambition from both interventions, compared to a control group.
Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to how many households the benefit cap has been applied (a) in each local authority area and (b) in total. [171403]
Esther McVey: Official statistics on how many households in each local authority have had the benefit cap applied are not currently available.
Official statistics on how many households have had the benefit cap applied nationally have been published and can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-cap-number-of-households-capped-to-august-2013
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households to whom the household benefit cap has been applied are lone parent families. [171404]
Esther McVey: Information on the number of households to whom the benefit cap has been applied which are lone parent families has been published and can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-cap-number-of-households-capped-to-august-2013
Housing Benefit: Temporary Accommodation
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households to whom the household benefit cap has been applied are in local authority temporary accommodation. [171405]
Esther McVey: Information on the number of household to whom the benefit cap has been applied in local authority temporary accommodation is not available.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) individuals, (b) pregnant women and (c) individuals with dependants have received jobseeker's allowance sanctions since October 2012. [171273]
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Esther McVey: Statistics on the new jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanctions regime, introduced in October 2012, have not yet been published as official statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the code of practice for official Statistics. However it is not intended that these statistics will include information on how many pregnant women and individuals with dependants have received jobseeker's allowance sanctions. This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received multiple jobseeker's allowance sanctions in each local authority area since October 2012. [171275]
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Esther McVey: Statistics on the new jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanctions regime, introduced in October 2012, have not yet been published as official statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the code of practice for official statistics.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receiving jobseeker's allowance had a sanction overturned on appeal in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011, (e) 2012 and (f) January to September 2013. [171468]
Esther McVey: The information requested, up to and including 21 October 2012, can be found in the following table.
| Number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants who had the original decision to apply a sanction overturned upon appeal by year of decision, Great Britain: 1 January 2008-21 October 2012 | |
| Year of decision | Total |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and show the number of varied, fixed length and entitlement decision referrals where the original decision was found against the claimant but subsequently overturned upon appeal. Figures will include individuals who have a sanction overturned in more than one year eg if an individual has had a sanction overturned in 2008 and also in 2012 then they will appear twice. 2. Year of decision: The year in which the decision to overturn the sanction was made. The year 2012 only includes data up to and including 21 October, which this is the latest data available. 3. Varied length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the adjudication officer who makes the decision. 4. Fixed length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a jobseeker's direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the adjudication officer's decision on a sanction question. 5. Entitlement decisions: These are questions on which entitlement to JSA depends. For example, if there is doubt around whether the jobseeker's agreement (JSAg) is suitable, whether they are actively looking for work or making themselves available for work. In most cases payment of JSA will be suspended by benefit processing until the doubt is resolved. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database. | |
The information requested after 21 October 2012 is not currently available.
Statistics on the new jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanctions regime, introduced on 22 October 2012, have not yet been published as official statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the code of practice for official statistics.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of jobseeker's allowance who were issued with a sanction chose not to keep their claim live in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011, (e) 2012 and (f) January to September 2013. [171469]
Esther McVey: Information on those who end their claim to jobseeker's allowance shortly after receiving a sanction is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receiving jobseeker's allowance who were subject to a sanction were classified as belonging to an ethnic minority in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011, (e) 2012 and (f) January to September 2013. [171470]
Esther McVey: The available information can be found in the following table.
| Number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants with a sanction applied by ethnic group and year of decision: 1 January 2008-21 October 2012 | |||||
| Year of decision | |||||
| Ethnic group | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
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| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and will includes individuals who have a sanction applied in more than one year eg if an individual has had a sanction applied in 2008 and also in 2012 then they will appear twice. 2. Sanctions applied: The number of sanctions applied is the number of Varied, fixed length and entitlement decision referrals where the decision was found against the claimant. 3. Year of decision: The year in which the decision to apply a sanction was made. 2012 is from 1 January to 21 October (the last date of the old sanctions regime) which is the latest data available. 4. Varied length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the adjudication officer who makes the decision. 5. Fixed length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a jobseeker's direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the adjudication officer's decision on a sanction question. 6. Entitlement decisions: These are questions on which entitlement to JSA depends. For example, if there is doubt around whether the jobseeker's agreement (JSAg) is suitable, whether they are actively looking for work or making themselves available for work. In most cases payment of JSA will be suspended by benefit processing until the doubt is resolved 7. Ethnicity group of claimant (aggregated): Ethnic group is self-assessed and recorded on the DWP Labour Market System (LMS). Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database. | |||||
Information on the number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants with a sanction applied after 21 October 2012 is not currently available. Statistics on the new JSA sanctions regime, introduced on 22 October 2012, have not yet been published as official statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the code of practice for official statistics.
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people receiving jobseeker's allowance who were subject to a sanction on the advice of a Work Programme provider were classified as belonging to an ethnic minority in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011, (e) 2012 and (f) January to September 2013. [171471]
Esther McVey: The available information can be found in the following table:
| Number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants with a sanction applied for failing to participate in the Work programme by ethnic group and year of decision: 1 June 2011 to 21 October 2012 | ||
| Year of decision | ||
| Ethnic group | 2011 | 2012 |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and will include individuals who have a sanction applied in more than one year, e.g. if an individual has had a sanction applied in 2011 and also in 2012 then they will appear twice. 2. Sanctions applied: The number of sanctions applied is the number of fixed length sanction referrals for failing to participate in the Work programme where the decision was found against the claimant. 3. Year of decision: The year in which the decision to apply a sanction was made. 2011 is from 1 June (date the Work programme was introduced) to 31 December. 2012 is from 1 January to the 21 October (the last date of the old sanctions regime) which are the latest data available. 4. Fixed length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a Jobseeker's Direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the Adjudication Officer's decision on a sanction question. 5. Ethnicity Group of claimant (aggregated): Ethnic group is self-assessed and recorded on the DWP Labour Market System (LMS). Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database | ||
Information on the number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants with a sanction applied for failing to participate in the Work programme after 21 October 2012 is not currently available. Statistics on the new JSA sanctions regime, introduced on 22 October 2012, have not yet been published as official statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the code of practice for official statistics.
Information on how many people receiving jobseeker's allowance (JSA) who were subject to a sanction on the advice of a Work programme provider for reasons other than failing to participate are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Sarah Teather:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against jobseeker's allowance sanctions have been (a) made and (b) successful
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since October 2012; and what the average time was from the date of an appeal to the date when a decision was made. [171604]
Esther McVey: Statistics on the new jobseeker's allowance (JSA) sanctions regime, introduced in October 2012, have not yet been published as official statistics. We intend to include this information as part of an upcoming release in line with the code of practice for official statistics. However is not intended that these statistics will include information on what the average time was from the date of an appeal to the date when a decision was made. This information is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Jobseeker's Allowance: Greater London
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals in (a) the London Borough of Brent, (b) Brent Central constituency and (c) London have received jobseeker's allowance sanctions in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [171274]
Esther McVey: The information requested can be found in the following table:
| Number of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants who had a sanction applied by year of decision and area: 1 January 2008 to 31 May 2012 | |||||
| Area | Year of decision | ||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and will individuals who have a sanction applied in more than one year e.g. if an individual has had a sanction applied in 2008 and also in 2012 then they will appear twice. 2. Sanctions applied: The number of sanctions applied is the number of Varied, Fixed Length and Entitlement Decision referrals where the decision was found against the claimant. 3. Year of Decision: The year in which the decision to apply a sanction was made. The latest data available are up to and including 31 May 2012, which are the latest data available for these geographical areas. 4. Parliamentary Constituency: Parliamentary Constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory. Boundaries are as at the reference date. More information and a map can be found at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/geography/beginner-s-guide/maps/index.html 5. Local Authority: On 1 April 2009 structural changes to the local authorities of England took effect. Changes are reflected from April 2009 in this table. 6. London: consists of the following local authorities: City of London, Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and City of Westminster. 7. Varied Length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the Adjudication Officer who makes the decision. 8. Fixed Length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry out a Jobseeker's Direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the Adjudication Officer's decision on a sanction question. 9. Entitlement Decisions: These are questions on which entitlement to JSA depends. For example, if there is doubt around whether the Jobseeker's agreement (JSAg) is suitable, whether they are actively looking for work or making themselves available for work. In most cases payment of JSA will be suspended by benefit processing until the doubt is resolved. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database | |||||
Pensions
Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of people in (a) Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK who have private pensions. [171420]
Steve Webb: The Department does not have administrative information on the number of people with private pensions, but estimates can be obtained from the Family Resource Survey (FRS) at the following location.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/206887/frs_2011_12_report.pdf
The relevant extract is replicated as follows:
"Private pension schemes comprise occupational schemes for private and public sector employees, and personal pensions including group personal pensions and stakeholder pensions. In 2011/12, 27 per cent (13.1 million) of adults were contributing to pensions, compared to 34 per cent (15.2 million) in 2002/03"
The FRS does not provide information on Ribble Valley or Lancashire.
Social Security Benefits: Fraud
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that the Single Fraud Investigation Service will share information with local authorities on (a) Council Tax Reduction scheme fraud, (b) housing fraud, (c) social services fraud, (d) education, (e) planning and (f) trading standards. [171047]
Esther McVey: The Department is keen to ensure that the Single Fraud Investigation Service (SFIS) continues to work closely with local authorities to tackle fraud and we will be introducing protocols detailing how this can happen as we move forward to its introduction. We will work closely with local government groups to agree these.
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Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that the Single Fraud Investigation Service will work correctly from the point of its introduction. [171048]
Esther McVey: The Single Fraud Investigation Service has been piloted extensively to test a range of delivery models, processes and procedures. Initial evaluation has taken place throughout in order to support the decision making and the pilots are also demonstrating the value of a single investigation as well as helping draw out the future organisational model
We will continue to work to ensure alignment with wider fraud strategies and with operational teams to develop a detailed plan for ensuring that the introduction of the Single Fraud Investigation Service is successful.
Throughout the project we have worked closely with a wide range of stakeholders and will continue to do so as the service is introduced; this will ensure they have a full picture of the activities under way and we can discuss any concerns or questions which are raised.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he plans to test the Single Fraud Investigation Service before its implementation. [171068]
Esther McVey: In 2012, the Single Fraud Investigation Service began four pilots to test a variety of partnership approaches and a single set of policies and procedures to help identify the best delivery model. An additional pilot began in April 2013 to support universal credit and a further four pilots will go live shortly. We will continue to work with our partners and stakeholders throughout the process.
The pilots continue to provide very useful feedback and valuable lessons have been learned which have informed our recommendations for the future of SFIS.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information on fraud will be available to local authorities following the implementation of the Single Fraud Investigation Service. [171069]
Esther McVey: The Department publishes estimates of fraud and error in the benefits system on a half yearly basis. Preliminary estimates for 2012-13 were published on 9 May 2013.
The Single Fraud Investigation Service is working with local government to agree protocols on how the service will work and report in the future.
Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what benefit provision is made for unemployed people who are waiting for disability assessments from Atos Healthcare; and what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for Atos assessments. [171408]
Mike Penning: Claimants who have made a claim for Employment and support allowance (ESA) are paid the assessment phase rate of ESA pending completion of a work capability assessment. This is paid at the same rate as jobseeker’s allowance.
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We are committed to ensuring the work capability assessment is as fair and as accurate as possible in determining who is fit for work and who needs support because they cannot work.
A written ministerial statement issued on 22 July outlined that in the drive to continually improve the work capability assessment process and bring down waiting times for claimants, DWP had decided to seek additional capacity to deliver work capability assessments from summer 2014. This additional capacity will be procured on a regional basis, in line with the overall contracting strategy for the Department. This commercial exercise is now under way.
Telephone Services
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy that all members of the public calling an 0845 telephone number to contact his Department be immediately notified of their right to be called back. [171579]
Esther McVey: The Department will offer to call a claimant back, if asked, or if concerns are raised over the cost of the call. The Department also provides access to telephones for claimant use, on request and at the Department's expense, in a large number of Jobcentre Plus offices where claimants needing assistance can progress a benefit inquiry or pursue job applications.
The Department has committed to introduce 0345 numbers alongside existing 0845 numbers to allow callers to make an informed choice. DWP expect to make an announcement on when this change will be introduced in the coming weeks when the planning process is completed.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make it his policy to consult carers and organisations representing disabled people on the use of 0845 numbers by his Department. [171605]
Esther McVey: Where appropriate, the Department routinely consults with external stakeholders, including claimant representative groups, as part of its existing Change Implementation procedures.
Advertising: The Guardian
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on advertising with (a)The Guardian newspaper, (b)The Guardian website and (c)The Guardian Media Group in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12 and (iv) 2012-13. [171549]
Mike Penning: The information on how much the Department spent on advertising with (a)The Guardian newspaper, (b)The Guardian website and (c)The Guardian Media Group in the years (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011 -12 and (iv) 2012-13 is specified in the table.
There were also recruitment advertising costs between 2010-13 of £4,199 across the categories. There are no figures available for 2009.
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| Gross expenditure with GMG companies—DWP | |||
| £ | |||
| Fiscal | Radio | Digital Display | |
| Notes: 1. Includes paper and magazine. Includes The Observer. Excludes classified recruitment. No regional—sold to MGN February 2010. 2. GMG Radio interests sold to Global—June 2012. | |||
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Universal Credit
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the interaction of universal credit and the income tax personal allowance. [171472]
Esther McVey: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has regular meetings with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Universal credit has been designed to dovetail with the tax system to ensure all claimants are better off as their earnings rise.