To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department has implemented to improve the availability of electricity to local nationals in Southern Afghanistan; and how much money was spent on such projects in each year since 2005. (170816)

Over 2006-08, DFID committed £7 million to Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in Helmand for reconstruction and development projects.

In 2006-07, as a QIPs project, we allocated £15,000 to fix three electricity generators in Sangin District in Helmand Province. This provided immediate access to electricity for approximately 500 homes in the district.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007, Official Report, column 153W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, if he will place in the Library copies of the last three studies by the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit on the effect of humanitarian and development programmes in Afghanistan. (170410)

The last three studies by the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit on the impact of humanitarian and development programmes are:

1. Cops or Robbers? The Struggle to Reform the Afghan National Police, by Andrew Wilder

2. A Matter of Interests: Gender and the Politics of Presence in Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga, by Anna Wordsworth

3. Finding the Money: Informal Credit practices in Rural Afghanistan, by Floortje Klijn and Adam pain

Copies of these studies will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007, Official Report, column 153W, on Afghanistan: reconstruction, if he will (a) place in the Library a copy of his Department's funded study by the Peace Dividend Trust and (b) state how many Peace Dividend Trust studies relating to Afghanistan his Department has funded. (170411)

A copy of the DFID-funded Peace Dividend Trust study ‘Afghan Compact Procurement Monitoring' will be placed in the Library of the House.

We have not funded the Peace Dividend Trust to produce any further studies relating to Afghanistan.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department has implemented to improve ground transport for local nationals in Southern Afghanistan; and how much was spent on such projects in each year since 2005. (170819)

Over 2006-08, DFID committed £7 million to Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in Helmand for reconstruction and development projects.

Under QIPs, we have spent £2.8 million on improving ground transport in Helmand Province. This includes projects such as bridge repairs, support to Afghanistan traffic police, provision of road building machinery and a bus station.

In addition, in 2007 under the DFID-supported Helmand Agricultural and Rural Development Programme (HARDP), £696,310 has been spent on the provision of 59 km of road in Lashkar Gar District, Helmand Province.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development from which budget the recently announced £7 million to aid relief efforts in Bangladesh following Cyclone Sidr will be taken; and whether this money is additional funding that has not previously been announced. (170294)

The £7 million for cyclone relief has not previously been announced. Of this total, £4.5 million has been allocated from underspends this financial year in the Bangladesh country programme—caused mainly by the complex political situation in Bangladesh—and £2.5 million from DFID’s central humanitarian and emergency aid budget. The reallocated underspend reflects normal in-year adjustments against forecast spending; these funds have not been diverted from existing projects or programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the relief effort in Bangladesh following Cyclone Sidr. (172183)

The emergency response has been rapid, especially that of the Government of Bangladesh, who have taken a strong co-ordination lead. Relief efforts have reached nearly all affected areas, but there is room for better co-ordination in reaching the ultra-poor and most needy. The water availability crisis has passed, owing to the high attention given to this by the Government, supported by others, including the military and some donors. However, a large number of people remain in makeshift camps that are still in urgent need of water, sanitation and hygiene support. The UK is looking to support meeting these short to medium-term needs by allocating £2.5 million, from our £7 million pledge for cyclone relief, to CARE, OXFAM GB, and Save the Children UK. This will focus on water, sanitation and hygiene promotion in the most affected areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) financial and (b) other aid has been pledged by the UK to the Bangladesh relief effort; and what progress is being made on the delivery of this aid. (172184)

The UK has pledged £7 million for Cyclone Sidr relief in Bangladesh. The first tranche of £2.5 million went through the United Nations Development Programme and has been providing immediate assistance in the form of food, clean and safe water, medical treatment and housing repairs since the relief operations started. The second tranche of £2.5 million has been programmed through Save the Children UK, Oxfam GB and CARE to focus on water, sanitation and hygiene promotion needs. These NGOs are already operational in the cyclone affected areas. Out of the remaining £2 million, the UK Government have provided non-food items, such as blankets and jerry cans, to 70,000 families in the worst affected districts and 12 boats to help with the relief operation—of which four have been provided to Save the Children, four to the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee and four to the Government of Bangladesh for the emergency disaster response. The remaining funds are being programmed for the restoration of livelihoods and disaster management co-ordination.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Bangladesh. (170638)

As of 1 December 2007, the Government of Bangladesh have reported 3,275 dead, 39,773 injured and 871 missing. They also estimate that the cyclone has affected approximately 30 of Bangladesh’s 64 districts, primarily in Barisal and Khulna Divisions, with more than 8.5 million people affected.

The UK Government has provided £7 million for Cyclone Sidr relief in Bangladesh. The first tranche of £2.5 million went through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to provide immediate assistance in the form of food, clean and safe water, medical treatment, and housing repairs. The second tranche of £2.5 million will be programmed through Save the Children UK, Oxfam GB, and CARE, to focus on short to medium-term needs such as water, sanitation and hygiene promotion. The remaining £2 million will be for improving access, provision of non-food items such as blankets, disaster management co-ordination and the restoration of livelihoods.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions he has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months. (171302)

Chapter 7 of the ‘Ministerial Code’ sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how much his Department spent on (a) business and (b) first class air travel in the last 12 months; (171249)

DFID's expenditure on flights booked centrally for the 12-month period April 2006 to March 2007 was £6,876,805, including business class flights costing £5,726,318 and first class flights costing £41,922.

Staff rules preclude use of first class travel, except by Ministers, officials accompanying them, and the most senior members of the senior civil service. Rules relating to the use of air travel and fare entitlements are set out in the Staff Handbook.

DFID's expenditure on UK train tickets for the 12-month period April 2006 to March 2007 was £366,684.

Data distinguished between classes of travel are not routinely maintained and could not be produced without the incurring of disproportionate cost. Staff may travel first class when they are travelling overnight or expected to work during the journey.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on overnight accommodation for Ministers overseas in the last year. (171335)

Details of the cost of overseas travel, including the cost of travel and accommodation are contained in the ‘Overseas Travel by Cabinet Ministers’ list. The latest list for the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the 2007-08 financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. All travel is made in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how he plans to ensure that projects funded by the Environmental Transformation Fund—International Window meet sustainability standards. (172600)

The £800 million Environmental Transformation Fund International Window (ETF-IW) will support development and poverty reduction through better environmental protection and help poor countries respond to climate change. We want to make the ETF-IW part of a wider multilateral effort and we are working with the World Bank, recipient countries, implementing agencies and key stakeholders on the design of a new multi-donor trust fund.

During this design process, criteria will be agreed to ensure that all the investments made from the fund are sustainable, support poverty reduction and maximise environmental transformation. All investments made from the multi-donor fund will also need to meet the Equator Principles as well as the safeguard standards of the World Bank and the respective implementing agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department provides for the construction of new schools or existing schools in (a) Ghana and (b) Nigeria. (171124)

DFID provides support for the construction of new school buildings through two programmes which provide budget support to the Government of Ghana for the implementation of its education sector plan:

In 2007-08, £40 million is being provided through the general multi-donor budget support programme. Of this sum, over 30 per cent. will be channelled into education, along with funds from other sources, including the Government's own revenues;

An additional £10 million has been provided by DFID in sector budget support, earmarked for education.

A large proportion of these funds are used for construction of new school infrastructure in both new and existing schools. The Ministry of Education reports that 2,322 new classrooms have been built in 2007 (in primary and junior secondary schools). Toilet blocks, furniture and, in some poorer areas, housing for teachers are also provided. Smaller amounts of UK funding are also provided for school construction through EC micro-projects, through the World Bank, and through the Education For All fast track initiative.

For the last six years, DFID has been supporting the Government of Nigeria, at both state and federal level, to build the capacity to use its own resources more effectively in the provision of basic education including school construction. Support is focused on three major initiatives all of which seek to improve school facilities:

DFID's capacity building for universal basic education project (CUBE) supports capacity building in Kano, Kaduna and Kwara states, including in the implementation of the World Bank's state education sector project (SESP). The wider SESP will support the renovation and construction of classrooms in 98 schools in the three states;

The £26 million girls education project (GEP) is funded by DFID and implemented by UNICEF in six Nigerian states (all six of which have large numbers of girls out of school). GEP provides support for educational materials, some minor renovation work and water points and toilets for 720 schools in the six states.

From 2008, DFID's new £106 million education sector support programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) will provide technical assistance to up to six Nigerian states to improve the planning, procurement and construction of schools, including the provision of small grants to communities to help them manage and improve local facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department followed all the provisions of its (a) approved departmental performance appraisal process and (b) departmental disciplinary procedure, including contingent provisions, in relation to the dismissal of Howard Horsley. (170565)

Mr. Howard Horsley’s dismissal in January 2000 was entirely consistent with the processes and terms and conditions of his employment under his fixed term Technical Co-operation Officer contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many illegal immigrants were discovered working for his Department and its agencies in the last year for which figures are available. (170502)

No illegal immigrants have been discovered working in DFID or its agencies in the last year. Employment in the civil service is done in accordance with the civil service nationality rules, which are available at:

www.civilservice.gov.uk/nationality

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) how many items of post sent by his Department were reported missing by the intended recipient in each year since 1997; (171290)

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments’ procedures will be made on completion of the review.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of school buildings approved by his Department were built to the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (a) very good and (b) excellent standard in each of the last five years; and what the construction cost of those buildings was. (172293)

No buildings have been constructed or approved by DFID in the UK in the last five years. The last construction project prior to this period was a new annexe to our East Kilbride office, which achieved an excellent rating against the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has held on measures to end the destruction of tropical forest caused by the expansion of biofuel plantations in South East Asia. (171119)

I have been asked to reply.

My Department has had discussions on this issue, at both ministerial and official level, with the Indonesian and Malaysian Governments, and with other UK Government Departments and industry stakeholders.

The Government are pursuing measures at home, in the EU and internationally to help ensure biofuels are produced sustainably, without the destruction of tropical forests.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much development assistance he has been provided to (a) the people of (b) NGOs working in and (c) the Government of Sudan in the last 12 months. (171958)

In 2006-07, the last year for which complete figures are available, DFID provided £110 million in humanitarian and development assistance to Sudan. Of this, £27 million went directly to NGOs operating in Sudan. The remainder was channelled through the United Nations and other development agencies such as the World Bank. The majority of this funding, however, was directed to NGOs as project implementing partners. No DFID assistance was given directly to the Government of Sudan.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Darfur, Sudan. (169111)

The humanitarian situation in Darfur remains critical. Malnutrition rates have risen sharply since the heavy rains in the autumn, particularly in the camps. Ongoing violence has led to a further 260,000 people being displaced this year alone, adding to the more than 2 million people already living in camps across the region. The camps are overstretched and becoming increasingly volatile. The increase in needs has been compounded by an escalation of attacks by armed groups against humanitarian agencies. This is having a serious impact on the ability of humanitarian agencies to deliver vital aid to those in need.

The UK is the second largest bilateral donor in Sudan, having given over £275 million in humanitarian aid since 2004, over £145 million of which has gone to Darfur. The UK is playing a leading role in improving the effectiveness of the humanitarian response such as the £40 million 2007 contribution to the Common Humanitarian Fund. The UK is also a strong supporter of international efforts to build on local-level peace-building and the AU-UN-led Darfur peace talks which commenced on 27 October in Libya. We urge all parties to commit to full participation in the next phase of talks.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff aged between 16 and 18 were employed by his Department (a) directly and (b) through an employment agency in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of these were given time off work to undertake some form of training; and what proportion were provided with some form of training (i) wholly and (ii) partially funded by his Department. (171275)

The number of new staff aged between 16 and 18 employed directly by DFID in the last 10 years is as follows:

DFID has no central record of the proportion of these staff undertaking some form of training, or the funding arrangements. This information could be gathered only at a disproportionate cost. DFID does not hold age-related information for agency staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe. (172398)

The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe continues to deteriorate, as a result of economic mismanagement made worse by the effects of a severe drought during the last growing season. An estimated 4.1 million people will need international food aid by the end of the year. Malnutrition has reached concerning levels in a number of districts. The collapse of urban water and sanitation systems in Zimbabwe's main cities has increased numbers of life-threatening diarrhoea outbreaks. HIV/AIDS remains a major problem with 1.8 million affected.

DFID's aid programme is providing substantial direct assistance to protect the livelihoods of more than 1.5 million poor people in Zimbabwe, tackle HIV/AIDS and help meet humanitarian needs. This year we have made an additional contribution of £8 million to the World Food Programme to ensure that food aid reaches those who need it most and £1 million to UNICEF to prepare for and respond to emergency disease outbreaks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for judicial review were lodged on behalf of failed asylum seekers facing removal in each of the last five years; what percentage were granted in each year; what proportion these cases comprised of the number of cases before the Administrative Court in each year; and what the approximate cost was of each case. (172789)

The information requested is set out in the following tables.

For the data in parts (b) and (c) it has been assumed that the reference to “granted” is intended to mean “allowed”. If a judicial review is allowed this indicates that the court is satisfied that the claimant has established his or her case. The remedy will be at the discretion of the court.

(d) What was the approximate cost of each case

To provide a complete breakdown of approximate costs for each case is not possible since this information is not recorded by the Administrative Court Office. To do so would be to incur disproportionate cost. The most recent estimates for approximate costs for judicial review applications include the cost of administrative staff time and judicial time for the permission hearing only. These estimates were produced in June 2006 and amount to £473.17 per case.

This estimate does not take into account middle and senior management time, other judicial time—particularly, but not limited to, the substantive hearing—or any overheads such as heating, lighting and other accommodation costs. Further, it does not take into account the legal funding costs which would be a matter for the Legal Services Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to his statement of 5 December 2007 on the Carter Report, whether the three titan prisons referred to will be run and staffed by the public sector. (172755)

It is anticipated that the provision of up to three large titan prisons will be subject to a competitive procurement exercise. Each case will, however, will be considered on its own merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 29 October 2007 to the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire, North (Jim Sheridan), Official Report, column 798W, on compensation: industrial diseases, if he will reconsider his decision not to bring forward legislative proposals to provide for compensation to people who have contracted pleural plaque as a result of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. (172279)

In my answer of 29 October 2007, Official Report, column 798W, to the hon. Member for Paisley and Renfrewshire, North (Jim Sheridan), I indicated that the Government had decided that it would not be appropriate to legislate on this issue. That remains the Government’s view.

The House of Lords reached a unanimous decision that pleural plaques do not constitute actionable or compensatable damage. The decision is based on fundamental principles of the law of negligence—first that compensation can only be payable where there is actual damage, and secondly that compensation is not payable simply for the risk or the worry that something might happen in the future.

Overturning these fundamental principles in the case of pleural plaques would create uncertainty in the law and could raise the possibility of claims being made much more widely for the risk of an illness occurring or for worry that something might happen. This would considerably increase the level of litigation and the possibility of weak or spurious claims, and could have damaging effects on business and the economy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department and its agencies have spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in each of the last five years. (171443)

This is the first year that a Ministry of Justice Christmas card has been produced by our print room. To date, 6,000 have been ordered at a cost of 34 pence each, totalling £2,040. These cards are not centrally funded, and business areas will cover the costs of the cards they have ordered from their stationery budgets.

It is not possible to get information for previous years’ spend on Christmas cards as these will have been ordered by each business area separately, and will be recorded in the Department’s accounts under “stationery”.

Christmas parties are not funded by the Department. Staff will contribute to the cost of Christmas parties themselves, contributions will be made by senior staff, or awards will be made through reward and recognition in line with departmental guidelines.

The cost of trees and decorations for the central London HQ buildings is as follows:

2007

Trees—£460.40 plus VAT

Decorations—£325.90 plus VAT

2003-06

Records were not kept for these years, however due to a change in our financial record keeping this information is now documented.

Archway Tower

2006

Trees, decorations and labour—£809.00 plus VAT

2005

Trees, decorations and labour—£966.00 plus VAT

2003-04

Records not kept beyond this date.

Conquest House

No money has been spent on Christmas trees and decorations since 2002.

Chancery Lane

Nil response due to no records kept.

The information for agencies can only be gathered at a disproportionate cost, as each building would order its own trees and decorations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how much has been paid in consultancy fees by his Department since its establishment; (172077)

From April 1997 until March 2001, the amounts spent by the Lord Chancellor's Department's on external consultants was as follows:

Spend with external consultants since the Ministry of Justice was established on 9 May 2007 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

However, from April 2007 until September 2007, the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and those bodies that were formerly part of the Home Office and which are now part of the Ministry of Justice, spent £5.5 million with external consultants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to staff maintaining his Department’s and its agencies’ corporate identity; and what the estimated annual cost is of (a) producing and (b) complying with such guidelines. (170229)

My Department, the Ministry of Justice, has placed copies of Ministry of Justice, Her Majesty’s Courts Service, Office for Criminal Justice Reform, National Offender Management Service, Office of the Public Guardian and Tribunals Service corporate identity guidelines in the Libraries of the House. HM Prison Service does not have guidelines available.

My Department spent the following on producing guidelines. These are one-off costs (excluding VAT) that occur in the year indicated when each organisation was established. My Department does not produce new guidelines every year.

For my other agencies, the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (established 2004), the National Offender Management Service (established 2005), the Tribunals Service (established 2006) and HM Prisons Service, figures are not available and to attempt to provide a figure would be disproportionate to the cost.

I am unable to identify how much staff time is spent on complying with the corporate guidelines without incurring disproportionate costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many outstanding Failure to Appear warrants there were in each year since 1997 (a) in England and Wales and (b) issued at Leeds magistrates court. (171696)

The information requested has only been collected since April 2005, although a snapshot of performance was conducted in August 2004. The figures relate only to failure to appear warrants (FTAs) and demonstrate a 54 per cent. reduction in outstanding warrants since August 2004.

The data that are available are summarised as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what national standards exist for the level of care and support for offenders with learning difficulties while (a) in custody and (b) after release. (172304)

People with learning disabilities have the same rights as other citizens. Under the Disability Discrimination Act (1995, and as revised in 2005), all public bodies must not discriminate against disabled people or provide a poorer quality of service because of their disability. The Act extends to people with learning disabilities.

To help ensure they receive the extra support to which they are entitled under the Disability Discrimination Act, the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP), part of the Department of Health, has produced the document ‘Positive Practice: Positive Outcomes; A handbook for Professionals in the Criminal Justice System working with Offenders with Learning Disabilities’ (CSIP, 2007).

This sets out the support that must be provided by the police, the courts, in prisons and on probation.

A copy is available in the Library by and it is also available on the CSIP website at,

http://www.kc.csip.org.uk/viewresource.php?action=viewdocument&doc=98519&grp=l

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of Saudi Arabian nationals with criminal convictions (a) conducting business and (b) living in the United Kingdom. (171881)

The requested information is not available. The recording by the police on the police national computer of the nationality of offenders in England and Wales is optional as there is no legislative obligation on individuals to provide this information. For this reason reliable statistics on the nationality of offenders cannot be compiled. In addition, the police national computer does not hold information on whether offenders are conducting business or currently living in the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) 10 to 13, (b) 14 to 15 and (c) 16 to 17-year-olds were (i) cautioned, (ii) prosecuted and (iii) in receipt of a penalty notice for disorder for purchasing alcohol under age in (A) the Uxbridge constituency, (B) Greater London, broken down by London borough and (C) England, in the last three years for which figures are available. (171484)

I have been asked to reply.

The information requested on prosecutions, cautions and penalty notices in England in the years 2004 to 2006 is provided in the table. There were no court proceedings, cautions or PNDs reported to the Ministry of Justice for the offences requested in Greater London.

Data broken down by constituency area and London borough are not held by the Ministry of Justice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on the work of the Peterborough Rape Crisis organisation of the withdrawal of Victims Fund grant monies from 1 January 2008; and if he will make a statement; (171948)

I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 6 December 2007, Official Report, column 1460W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) on how many occasions cases involving recordable sexual offences have not been placed on the Police National Computer in (a) Leeds and (b) England and Wales; (171694)

I refer the hon. Member to my written statement on 29 November 2007, Official Report, columns 44-46WS, on Leeds magistrates courts. Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Courts Administration has been asked to work with the chief inspectors for the constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service, to conduct a thorough inspection and prepare a report to Ministers on the resulting and warrant processes at Leeds magistrates court.

An experienced judge, district judge (magistrates court) Tony Browne, has also been appointed to conduct an investigation of the judicial responsibilities of legal advisers at Leeds magistrates court. We have also started investigating the national processes and practices for withdrawing warrants across the CIS agencies. HMCS have also been asked to look again at the information they gathered in their pro-active national review of the effectiveness of resulting processes in magistrates courts (in January 2007), and report on any outstanding issues.

It is these inspections and investigations which should provide the reliable data of the kind sought by the hon. Member.

It would be wrong to pre-empt the outcome of those investigations. I will make a further statement to the House on the findings and facts relating to all these matters, the action that has been taken and the action that will be taken when the investigations have concluded. The inspectorate report will be published to Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2007, Official Report, columns 486-87W, on prisoners: video games, what criteria and guidance the Government issue to prohibit prisoners from accessing computer games which may have extreme violent, racist or sexually inappropriate themes; which games have been banned from prisons under these criteria; and if he will make a statement. (172055)

Prison service order 1250 Prisoners Property provides guidance to governors about all items of in possession property, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. Governors prohibit any item they consider to be a potential risk to security, health and safety, or the good order or discipline of the establishment such as computer games that are of an extreme violent, racist or sexual nature. There are no central data available about which games have been prohibited by governors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions have taken place between those responsible for the Dore programme and the Prison Service. (171974)

There have been no discussions that have taken place between the Prison Service and those responsible for the Dore programme as there are no formal links with the provider. The Dore programme no longer runs at HMP Stafford or any other prison. The programme does however continue to be run independently within the community and prisoners are referred to the programme on release.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of prison officers younger than 21 years old working in prisons where the youngest prisoners are aged 21 years. (170864)

No assessment has been made of prison officers working in prisons where the youngest prisoners are aged 21 or over, nor has this been raised formally as an issue. Out of a total of 25,303 prison officers, only 83 (0.3 per cent.) are below the age of 21.

The recruitment process for prison officers is by way of a job simulation assessment centre to assess that candidates are competent to undertake the role. If they are successful in the assessment process, they are deemed capable to work in any prison establishment.

The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, which came in to force on 1 October 2006, outlaw the use of minimum recruitment ages unless they can be objectively justified.

While on duty, prison officers hold the powers of a constable and currently share a common minimum recruitment age of 18 with the police services.

The minimum age requirement for prison officers was first reduced from 21 to 20 years in 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what reception screening is in place for mental health needs in prisons. (172360)

All prisoners, both new prisoners and those transferred in from one prison to another, benefit from a new health screening process, introduced across the prison estate in 2004, that is designed to detect physical and mental health problems.

Work by Professor Grubin and colleagues led to the roll-out of a new two-part health screening tool, the first part intended to gather information pertinent to the addressing of immediate health concerns, and the second part intended to act as a “well woman/man” consultation, analogous to that in use in primary care settings in the wider community.

Prisoners who are identified as needing further help can be referred to a mental health in-reach team, who will arrange further assessment and follow up referral.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 14 November 2007, Official Report, column 295W, on reoffenders, how much was spent on approved premises in each of the last five years. (171868)

The following data set out what has been spent in total on the approved premises estate in each of the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff in his Department (a) were disciplined and (b) had their employment terminated as a result of a poor sickness record in each of the last five years. (163697)

The information requested is not held centrally for the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, this information is now being recorded centrally by the Ministry of Justice and figures will be available shortly.

Sickness absence can become a disciplinary issue when someone is off sick without authority (either absent from work for more than seven days without providing a doctor’s certificate or failing to ring their line manager on the day of their absence) and does not improve following a meeting and an agreed action plan.

Appropriate warning levels can be issued at any stage. Warnings are not issued because someone is unwell; they are issued for non-attendance at work, and are part of the process for managing absence. If someone were found to have misled their employers about the absence they would be dealt with under the conduct policy.

The health referral can be used at any stage, and is not a disciplinary sanction. For example, if someone had a pattern of frequent short-term absence, a referral could be done to see if there were any underlying medical problems. Similarly if someone disclosed diagnosis of a serious medical condition, a referral could be done immediately to identify any reasonable adjustments that could be made.

Within Her Majesty's Prison Service, Prison Service Order 8403 Management of Attendance Procedures contains the policy on dealing with sickness absence. A total of 2,066 members of HM Prison Service staff have been dismissed for the reason of medical inefficiency or medically retired over the last five years.

This breaks down as:

Within the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), staff with a poor sickness absence record are managed under attendance management policies operated within Home Office headquarters.

Information on the number of attendance management warnings and dismissals is only available from 2005, and breaks down as follows:

The figures are inclusive of staff disciplined and dismissed under both the long and short-term sick policies used within the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to extend the programme of the Dore achievement centres and the Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Attention Deficit Disorder treatment programme within Stafford Prison to other prisons. (171975)

The Dore programme is no longer run at HMP Stafford and there are no plans to extend the programme to any other prison. The programme does however continue to be run independently within the community and prisoners are referred to it on release.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) men and (b) women are serving prison sentences for non-payment of the BBC licence fee. (170269)

Non-payment for a television licence is not an imprisonable offence. Offenders are dealt with by way of a fine. Non-payment of a fine may result in a short custodial sentence. At 31 October 2007 there were no fine defaulters in prison establishments in England and Wales whose main offence was non-payment for a TV licence.

This information has been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what costs were incurred due to vandalism in young offender institutions in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. (172725)

The costs of vandalism in the 34 young offender institutions is held at each establishment and forms part of the overall maintenance costs. This information is not held centrally and could be gathered only at disproportionate cost within the given time scale.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department takes to ensure the safety of staff within young offender institutions when dealing with disruptive behaviour by inmates. (172726)

Staff are trained in a number of techniques to effectively and safely manage violent or refractory young prisoners. These techniques include the use of de-escalation and interpersonal/communication skills, personal safety techniques and as a last resort control and restraint. The procedures for use of control and restraint are laid out in Prison Service Order 1600.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether there is a uniform application of “lights out” policies across all young offender institutions. (172727)

There is no uniform “lights out” policy for young offender institutions. This is a local operational matter for the governor to decide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that English wine is served exclusively or at the request of guests at meals, parties and receptions hosted by his Department; and if he will make a statement. (164298)

All public procurement procedures must comply with the EU directives. The key principles of the treaty, from a public procurement point of view, are the free movement of goods and services, and non-discrimination on the grounds of nationality. This legislation is designed to ensure that all public procurement across the European Union is fair, transparent and non-discriminatory.

This means that the DWP cannot specify that it will only buy goods (e.g. wine) from a particular country or locality, as that would discriminate against producers from other EU member states.

However, the Government are committed to increase opportunities for small and local suppliers to tender for contracts, thus increasing competition and securing better value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what health and safety advice is issued to his Department’s agencies on Christmas decorations. (171846)

The Department for Work and Pensions provides sensible and simple guidance for staff about the potential hazards associated with the use of Christmas decorations in buildings.

This provides practical advice on how to reduce the risk of injury from slips, trips and falls by avoiding trailing wires and not standing on furniture when hanging decorations, and advice that all Christmas lights should be properly tested and checked before use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that his Department provides references for the translators no longer being used by the Department. (169779)

Guidance to suppliers on the provision of references is given within the terms and conditions detailed on the “Supplying DWP” section of the Department's internet site. The link to this section is:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/supplyingdwp/doing_business with_dwp/ppn7-03.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of (a) beef, (b) lamb, (c) pork and (d) dairy products used in his departmental headquarters were imported products in the most recent period for which figures are available. (166656)

It is not possible to obtain figures solely for individual headquarter sites.

The following table provides information on the percentage of each product imported for the period 1 July 2006-30 June 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what contingency plans he has to help those who could be affected by the proposed strikes within his Department; and if he will make a statement. (170773)

Our contingency plans, which are flexible and proven, include prioritising our resources to ensure that our top priority—to make payments to our customers—is maintained throughout any strike action by staff. We will also maintain access to our services by telephone and wherever possible face to face.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants in his Department (a) transferred to other Government Departments and (b) left the civil service in each of the last five years. (162729)

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) on 13 November 2007, Official Report, columns 203-07W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what entertainment or hospitality members of his Department’s management board have received in each of the last three financial years; and if he will make a statement. (164738)

Paragraph 4.3.5 of the Civil Service Management Code sets out the rules on the registration of hospitality. The Government are committed to publishing an annual list of hospitality received by members of departmental boards. The first list for 2007 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current calendar year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many bonuses were awarded to senior civil servants working at his Department and its agencies in 2006-07; and what the total cost of those bonuses was. (166829)

There were 242 bonuses awarded to senior civil servants working at the Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies in 2006-07.

The total cost of those bonuses was £1,787,847.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in his Department and its predecessors were paid over £100,000 in each year since 1997. (167204)

The information is in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of redundancies in the Department in the 12 months preceding (a) 30 June 2004, (b) 30 June 2005 and (c) 30 June 2006. (166287)

Over the three-year period only one member of staff was made compulsorily redundant in the Department. However, in addition, as part of its efficiency programme, the Department has run a number of staff early release schemes on a voluntary basis.

The Department reports financial information based on financial years over the periods April to March. Information is therefore not available on the cost of early release in any of the 12-month periods ending 30 June. Information on the cost of on early release in the 12 months ending 31 March 2004, 31 March 2005 and 31 March 2006 is in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on overnight accommodation for Ministers overseas in the last year. (171331)

Details of the cost of overseas travel, including the cost of travel and accommodation, are contained in the Overseas Travel by Cabinet Ministers list. The latest list for the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the 2007-08 financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. All travel is made in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to increase the involvement of private and voluntary sector organisations in the design and delivery stages of the city strategy. (170113)

We are currently in discussion with providers from the private and voluntary sectors and plan to hold an event in January at which we will update them on the city strategy and its progress to date.

At this event, they will also have an opportunity to outline how they plan to work with the pathfinder consortia, influence policy decisions, and play a part in the commissioning strategy. This will enable all parties to work together to improve the way in which support for individual jobless people is co-ordinated and delivered on the ground.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people seeking to (a) return to work and (b) obtain their first job his Department has assisted to compile a curriculum vitae in each of the last three years. (171519)

The information requested is not available.

Jobcentre Plus personal advisers provide information, advice and guidance to help people identify, apply for and secure employment. Tailoring this to individual need, advisers offer support on a range of jobsearch skills, including, where required, help to compile a curriculum vitae (CV). However, we do not maintain data about the number of people personal advisers help personally to compile a CV, or who they may direct to other sources of help, such as programme provision, self-help material such as the Jobcentre Plus Job Kit or local help organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support his Department makes available to people with Marfan syndrome in job applications. (169342)

The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.

Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 10 December 2007:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the support made available to people with Marfan syndrome in job applications. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

Customers with Marfan Syndrome can access the wide range of programmes provided by Jobcentre Plus. In particular, they may be interested in Pathways to Work or Disability Employment Adviser support.

Pathways to Work currently operates in 18 Jobcentre Plus Districts and will be available everywhere by April 2008. This initiative encourages customers to consider starting or returning to work with the help of the Incapacity Benefit Personal Adviser. Support includes a series of work focused interviews and access to the “Choices” package. The package includes financial incentives, in work support and if appropriate, participation in a joint NHS / Jobcentre Plus Condition Management programme, so they can understand and manage their condition with a view to returning to work. The adviser identifies when, and if other specialist advice or provision is needed.

Anyone who has been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome and who needs to look for specific types of work can seek additional specialist help from the Disability Employment Adviser.

The Disability Employment Adviser can provide information about the range of mainstream and specialist programmes and services that can support disabled people into work. These include New Deal for Disabled People, Work Preparation, Access to Work, WORKSTEP and Residential Training Colleges. The Disability Employment Adviser and customer will draw up an action plan to help the customer move into employment.

If a customer is concerned about losing their job or one they are about to start, because of a disability, the Disability Employment Adviser can provide advice about Access to Work. Access to Work can assist people with a disability or health condition who need support to overcome work-related obstacles resulting from disability, allowing them to stay in or start their job.

I hope this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out a timetable for the implementation of proposals made in “In work, better off: next steps to full employment” document published in July 2007. (169914)

The consultation period for the Green Paper ‘In work, better off’ closed at the end of October. We are currently studying the submissions we received and will respond shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Highland ward of Merkinch received from the deprived areas fund in 2006-07; and how much it is estimated to receive in 2007-08. (169911)

In 2006-07, the Deprived Areas Fund allocated to the Jobcentre Plus Highlands, Islands and Clyde Coast, and Grampian district included £10,495 for the Merkinch ward. The amount for 2007-08 is £32,340.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to revise his guidance to lay decision-makers assessing claims for disability living allowance from sufferers of myalgic encephalopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome; and if he will make a statement. (170263)

Updated medical guidance on myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome for disability living allowance decision-makers was published in July 2007. The guidance is available on the Department's website. There are no current plans for further revision, but officials will continue to monitor new research and evidence in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received from (a) myalgic encephalopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) charities, (b) medical professionals and (c) individuals with ME/CFS on his Department's advice on claimants suffering from this illness. (170270)

The guidance published in July 2007 was written in consultation with medical experts from relevant medical specialities, including an expert nominated by groups representing people with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Consultation with groups representing people with CFS included three face-to-face meetings. Their comments and views were taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what scientific studies underlie his Department's guidance on benefit applicants with myalgic encephalopathy, chronic fatigue syndrome. (170271)

The Department did not use any specific scientific studies to inform the revision of its guidance to disability living allowance decision-makers, but used instead a range of recognised experts in the field to help with drawing up the guidance. This process included engagement with bodies representing people with myalgic encephalopathy and chronic fatigue syndrome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate his Department has made of the number of new jobs for (a) British citizens and (b) non-British citizens that the British jobs for British workers policy will produce; (164769)

“British jobs for British workers' refers to the Government's commitment to help disadvantaged people in this country who have been on benefits, often for prolonged periods of time, to move into work.

Our Welfare Reform Green Paper “In work, better off: next steps to full employment” sets out our proposals for moving further towards our aspiration of 80 per cent. employment. We will concentrate on helping the most disadvantaged individuals and families. Tackling inactivity, particularly among those on benefits, remains our top priority.

We have joined major employers to create Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs), which will help over 250,000 disadvantaged people into work over the next three years.

These measures are designed to build on the record of success since 1997 which has seen an increase in employment of 2.8 million and a reduction of over 1 million people on key out-of-work benefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department has provided to Jobcentre Plus employees on working with local authorities to meet the needs of adults with an autism spectrum disorder. (170551)

[holding answer 30 November 2007]: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 10 December 2007:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what guidance has been provided to Jobcentre Plus employees on working with local authorities to meet the needs of adults with autism spectrum disorder. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

There is no specific guidance provided to Jobcentre Plus employees on working with local authorities to meet the needs of those with autism spectrum disorder.

However, Jobcentre Plus has a Service Level Agreement with local authorities setting out the joint activities Jobcentre Plus and local authorities undertake for their shared customers. This ensures both organisations continue to work together effectively and deliver a quality service to customers.

Furthermore, any customers who need extra support because of their disability, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, can get help from a Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Adviser. The Disability Employment Adviser will tell them about specialised programmes available for disabled people and any suitable job vacancies. There are no Jobcentre Plus programmes specifically targeted at people with autism spectrum. All of these programmes work with customers across the full range of disabilities and health conditions, including those with autism spectrum disorder.

Disability Employment Adviser training includes periods of consolidation after training where they research into local organisations and provision for the benefit of customers. This develops effective working relationships with partners and would include local employers, the local authority, voluntary organisations and social services.

I hope this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of jobseeker’s allowance claimants who are contacted (a) more frequently than every two weeks, (b) every two weeks and (c) less than every two weeks about their claim. (166578)

The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 10 December 2007:

The Secretary of State for Employment and Welfare Reform has asked me to reply to your question about the estimated number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants who are contacted about their claim more frequently than every two weeks; every two weeks; and less than every two weeks. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

The vast majority of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance are required to attend the Jobcentre at least every two weeks to show they are actively seeking and available for work, and therefore remain entitled to payment. During certain key stages of the claim people are required to attend more frequently for short periods.

In 2006/07 there were 2.3 million claims for Jobseekers Allowance. Of these, about 60% (1.3 million) left before 13 weeks, and will have attended a Jobcentre Plus office on a fortnightly basis during that time. Those claiming beyond 13 weeks (about 965,000) will have had a combination of weekly/fortnightly contacts, depending upon the duration of their claim.

Additionally, in 2006/07 there was a total of 29,350 interviews with 7,337 customers suspected of working while claiming benefit, but where there was not enough evidence to warrant a full fraud investigation. These customers were required to attend the Jobcentre Plus office for a series of interviews arranged to take place on days other than their normal day of attendance in order to disrupt any potential work pattern.

The only exception to the requirement to attend the Jobcentre fortnightly or weekly is people who are able to maintain their claim by post, for example because of the distance they live from their nearest Jobcentre Plus office. While these people are not required to actually attend the Jobcentre as frequently as other customers, they are required, by post, to show they are actively seeking and available for work on a similar fortnightly or weekly basis, depending upon the length of their claim. We do not have information on the number of postal claimants, but the (postal) eligibility rules mean they only ever represent a small percentage of the overall number claiming Jobseekers Allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether jobseeker's allowance claimants are permitted to refuse an offer of employment if they would not be made financially better off by accepting the offer; (170279)

[holding answer 3 December 2007]: Jobseeker's allowance regulations do not normally allow claimants to refuse an offer of employment if they would not be made financially better off by accepting the offer. However, there are easements which allow good cause for refusing a job which are considered by an independent decision maker. They will look at all the available evidence, and it is possible that they will consider the claimant has good cause for refusing an offer of employment, if they would not be made financially better off by accepting the offer.

The impact of these measures was considered in our Green Paper, “In Work, Better Off: Next Steps to Full Employment”, and in the subsequent consultation on its proposals. We will be responding to these in our White Paper Response.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) first, (b) second and (c) subsequent work-focused interviews for lone parents were booked between March 2006 and September 2007; and how many claimants were sanctioned for non-attendance in each category. (170274)

[holding answer 3 December 2007]: The available information is in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether consideration has been given to ending the age-related graduated structure of minimum wage rates. (172581)

I have been asked to reply.

The Government’s regulations implementing the European Employment Directive (Council Directive 2007/78/EC) came into force on 1 October 2006 (Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006) and provided an exemption from age discrimination for employers using the youth (16-17 year-old) or development rates (18-21 year-old) of the minimum wage. The Government keep the position under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has any plans to exempt certain groups of lone parents from new requirements of conditionality outlined in “In work, better off: next steps to full employment”. (169918)

The proposed changes from October 2008 would only affect those lone parents who are in receipt of income support solely on the basis that they are the parent of a child aged 12 or over. Further proposals are that this age may be brought down to a youngest child who will be seven years old by October 2010.

The Green Paper proposed that

“Other lone parents would be able to claim the appropriate benefit for their circumstances. For example, lone parents receiving carer’s allowance for disabled children (or for caring for others) will be able to continue to claim income support should they wish.”

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the net annual cost for each year from 2008 to 2025 of (a) paying the basic state pension at its current level, increased annually in line with average earnings to all pensioners, (b) raising the basic state pension to the current level of the Pensions Credit Guarantee, increased annually in line with average earnings and paying it to all pensioners and (c) raising the basic state pension to 60 per cent. of median population income, increased annually in line with average earnings and paying it to all pensioners. (164652)

The information is in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department’s year ends for the purpose of assessing staff performance; and when staff receive performance bonuses. (172126)

The performance year for the Department for Work and Pensions runs from 1 April to 31 March for all grades including the senior civil service.

Performance bonuses are one element of the annual pay award, which is effective from 1 July. This year, owing to protracted pay negotiations with trade unions, performance bonuses were paid with the pay award in November.

Senior civil service bonuses are usually paid in July in DWP, but this year they were paid in November in line with Cabinet Office instruction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the future of the (a) Trefforest, (b) Brynaman and (c) Ystradgynlais Remploy factories. (171381)

[holding answer 4 December 2007]: The Secretary of State discussed those Remploy factories with a number of Welsh Assembly Government Ministers, including the First Minister, the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing and the Deputy Minister for Regeneration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will list the organisations which provide advice on the making of decisions on applications to the social fund; (164487)

The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 10 December 2007:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions relating to the operation of the discretionary Social Fund scheme. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

Jobcentre Plus is solely responsible for administering the Social Fund, including making initial decisions on applications for loans and Community Care Grants and providing the first tier of review for applicants dissatisfied with their original decision. Decision makers must adhere to the Directions issued by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and take account of guidance he has given. They should also have regard to the state of the budget in the Social Fund unit they are attached to. Decision makers are fully trained in the principles of decision making and the rules relating to the Social Fund.

Social Fund Inspectors working at the Independent Review Service for the Social Fund (an independent statutory body) provide the second tier of the review for customers dissatisfied with the review decision made by the decision maker in Jobcentre Plus. Customers who are still dissatisfied may apply for Judicial Review.

Inspector's decisions are returned to Jobcentre Plus and are used as a learning resource for decision makers. The Social Fund Commissioner, the head of the Independent Review Service, has provided assistance to Jobcentre Plus by making his staff available to assist us in training our decision makers. Inspector's decisions have always been a useful resource for Jobcentre Plus decision makers. We are now formalising that as part of an enhanced checking regime designed to improve the standard of decision making.

The particulars of each application are recorded on the national Social Fund Computer System. For Budgeting Loans this includes the reasons for the decision and repayment terms. For Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans, in addition to recording the details on the computer system, decision makers are required to complete a written decision which explains in details the reasons why an award has been made or refused.

Jobcentre Plus monitors customer service through the Mystery Shopper Programme, which is an independent measure of the accuracy and comprehensiveness of information given to customers. The scenarios used by the Mystery Shopper include some questions about elements of the Social Fund. Performance against these questions contributes to the wider Customer Service Target.

Social Fund decision makers are advised to alert customers, where appropriate, to charitable sources of funding such as the Family Fund. Decision makers refusing an award from one part of Social Fund will as a matter of routine consider whether an application to another part of the fund might be successful. When a decision is made to refuse a Community Care Grant the decision maker will automatically consider whether a crisis loan can be awarded. Similarly, if a Crisis Loan is refused the decision maker should consider whether the award of a Community Care Grant is appropriate. Where neither is appropriate consideration should be given to issuing a Budgeting Loan application form to the customer as legislation does not permit us to treat an application for a Community Care Grant or Crisis Loan as a Budgeting Loan.

The Community Care Grant scheme operates within the constraints of a cash limited budget and awards are made based on prioritisation of customer need which ensures that available funding goes to those with the highest priority needs. In each case the decision maker considers the nature, extent and urgency of need and whether the priority of the need can be met from the relevant budget allocation.

I hope that this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value of (a) attendance allowance and (b) disability living allowance payments for people over the retirement age living in Eastbourne was in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 2006-07. (165398)

The available information is in the following tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many A8 nationals claimed (a) income support, (b) jobseeker’s allowance, (c) housing benefit, (d) council tax benefit and (e) pension credit in each quarter since 1 May 2004, broken down by nationality. (162347)

The information is not available in the format requested.

Some information is available in the “Accession Monitoring Report; May 2004-September 2007”, a joint report by the Border and Immigration Agency, Department for Work and Pensions, HM Revenue and Customs and Department for Communities and Local Government, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

The Accession Monitoring Report only gives the total of applicants for tax funded income related benefits (income based jobseeker’s allowance , income support and state pension credit) broken down by A8 nation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions why his Department cancelled its autumn staff survey; what consultations his Department had with the trade union side before deciding to cancel; what costs were incurred in drafting the survey before it was cancelled; and when his Department next plans to survey its staff. (171836)

[holding answer 6 December 2007]: The Department for Work and Pensions postponed its November 2007 staff survey until January 2008. The decision to defer was made following a range of feedback suggesting that a review of the questionnaire content and overarching strategy was needed. A letter to the DTUS secretary, on 24 October 2007, outlined the rationale and gave advance viewing of a Department-wide announcement on 25 October 2007. The DWP will share the revised content of the survey questionnaire with the DTUS (which it does routinely each year). A total of £14,535 was incurred in external supplier costs in preparation for the postponed survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department is responsible for (a) the ministerial salary and (b) the provision of support to the ministerial office of the hon. Member for Stevenage. (170006)