To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what personal training courses at public expense he has undertaken since his appointment. (230948)

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents there were on the A12 in Essex in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these accidents resulted in (a) death and (b) serious injury. (233137)

The numbers of reported personal injury road accidents on the A12 in Essex and the number of these accidents resulting in (a) death and (b) serious injury are shown in the table, for each year from 1998 to 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on airline companies' obligations with regard to allowing people with a lung condition to (a) access oxygen provided, (b) take their own (i) portable oxygen cylinders and (ii) portable oxygen concentrator on board flights; and what guidance he has issued on this matter. (231699)

European Regulation 1107/2006 on the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air, came fully into force in July 2008. It imposes a number of obligations on airlines with respect to the services they provide, including an obligation to carry passengers' medical equipment free of charge. However, there are no specific obligations to carry or provide oxygen in the cabin.

To help the air transport industry to comply with its obligations under the regulation, the Department for Transport has published an updated version of its code of practice ‘Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility’. The code includes a section on oxygen which advises that air carriers may approve the carriage of gaseous (not liquid) oxygen or air cylinders required for medical use, but notes that carriers will wish to ensure that these do not pose a risk to security. The code also recommends that portable oxygen concentrator devices should normally be allowed if battery powered. Where air carriers wish to supply medical oxygen to passengers on request, the code acknowledges that it would be possible to make a charge for this service to cover the provision of the oxygen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent steps the Government has taken to reduce abuse of blue badges for disabled parking. (232226)

In October 2007 we introduced legislation to change the design of the badge to include an anti-fraud hologram and a new serial number to help prevent fraud and aid enforcement.

In January 2008 we revised local authority guidance to improve administrative consistency and enforcement and launched a £0.5 million local authorities centres of excellence fund, designed to promote good practice in administering and enforcing the scheme.

In March 2008 we began a pilot experiment of new tamper proof laminates designed to further enhance badge security.

Most recently, on 20 October 2008, the Department for Transport published a Comprehensive Blue Badge (Disabled Parking) Reform Strategy. This strategy contains a number of commitments to fight fraud and abuse of the Blue Badge Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many employment agency staff work in each of his Department’s bargaining units on a (a) headcount and (b) full-time equivalent basis. (231747)

[holding answer 30 October 2008]: The central Department and its agencies had a headcount (a) of 523 agency staff, as at end of September 2008. This figure excludes the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

An accurate full-time equivalent (b) figure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what research his Department is undertaking into the effects of fatigue on drivers; (232323)

The Department is conducting research on the potential use of fatigue risk management systems with the object of developing guidance for their use by those who employ drivers. The research is expected to be completed in the first half of 2009. Early indications from the project suggest that such systems offer considerable potential as a more effective method of managing fatigue than compliance with hours of work limits alone. They encourage employers to identify fatigue-related risk factors within their business and to consider the full range of potential contributors to fatigue, both work-related (e.g. work practices, shift patterns) and individual (e.g. lifestyle, medical conditions).

At the European level, our researchers were most recently involved with the IMMORTAL project (Impaired Motorists, Methods of Roadside Testing and Assessment for Licensing). This project, which concluded in 2005, included a workshop on Fatigue (Fatigue, Sleepiness and Reduced Alertness as Risk Factors in Driving) with a particular focus on obstructive sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders. A departmental research manager was a co-author of the report arising from this workshop. That is online at:

www.toi.no/getfile.php/Publikasjoner/T%D81%20rapporter/2004/739-2004/739-2004-2.pdf.

There have been no more recent discussions with European counterparts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether there are plans for National Air Traffic Services to undertake additional public consultation before any introduction of (a) mixed-mode and (b) a third runway at Heathrow airport; and if he will make a statement; (232320)

[holding answer 3 November 2008]: The “Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport” consultation closed on 27 February and we expect to announce a decision on the future development of Heathrow by the end of the year.

If mixed-mode operations are supported (either within the current movements cap or with additional movements), it would be for the airport operator to bring forward plans and obtain the necessary planning approvals. It would also be the responsibility of the airport operator and National Air Traffic Services to further assess the indicative airspace and air traffic control arrangements presented in the consultation to meet the statutory requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority. This could include further consultation, where appropriate, in accordance with the CAA’s Airspace Change Process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times evacuations of (a) the concourses, (b) the security and passports areas and (c) the airside areas of (i) Heathrow, (ii) Gatwick and (iii) Stansted airports have occurred following an alarm being triggered by a passenger smoking in a toilet in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. (231638)

We have been advised by BAA that it is unable to provide detailed information on how many evacuations have been carried out over the last 12 months due to a fire alarm being triggered without detailed analysis. As this is an operational matter for BAA, I suggest the hon. Member directs his inquiry to the chief executive of BAA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2008, Official Report, column 1040W, on Network Rail: standards, what improvement notices have been served on Network Rail by the Office of the Rail Regulator in the last 12 months. (233179)

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has served a total of 19 improvement notices on Network Rail in the last 12 months. Details of 18 of these notices have been entered on the public register. They can be found on ORR’s website at:

http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/.

One notice, served on Network Rail in June 2008, relating to the joint between non-adjustable stretcher bar brackets and switch rails, has been appealed by Network Rail and therefore has not been entered onto the public register.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he is taking to counter the incidence of piracy on the high seas, with particular reference to the Gulf of Aden; (226715)

The Department for Transport is not aware of any British seafarers being held hostage as a consequence of piracy incidents. The Government are acutely aware of the dangers being faced by seafarers on board ships transiting the Gulf of Aden and abhor the loss of life incurred to date.

The UK is supportive of the IMO's efforts which calls for states interested in the safety and security of maritime activities to take part actively in the fight against piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia.

The Department has issued advice to seafarers on the measures that can be taken to prevent acts of piracy and armed robbery in Marine Guidance Note 298. We have also urged Masters to obtain up to date information about pirate attacks in order to plan their passage through the Gulf of Aden. This advice can be obtained from the Royal Navy's UK Maritime Trade Operation based in Dubai. The shipping industry has also been informed of the Maritime Security Patrol Area (MPSA) established by the Combined Maritime Forces. The MPSA does not eliminate the risk of criminal activity and shipping has been warned to exercise extreme caution and vigilance.

Piracy is an international problem that requires an international solution. The Government are playing their full part by pressing for effective international action to address the issue by tackling the problem at its roots on land. The Government are very concerned by increasing numbers of piracy and armed robbery attacks in and around Somali waters and we have noted the expressed concerns from industry. We are working proactively with our EU, NATO and Coalition Task Force 150 partners to counter the menace.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent steps the Government has taken to reduce the level of crime on railways; (232222)

The total number of offences reported to the British Transport Police (BTP) reduced by 12 per cent. between 2006-07 and 2007-08 and crime remains low relative to the over one billion passenger journeys made each year. We nevertheless continue to work closely with the industry and the police to secure further improvements. Last year, the budget for the British Transport Police (BTP) increased by 5 per cent. and, at £271 million, is at more than twice the level it was six years ago. BTP numbers at London Underground and mainline stations have increased too and there are now 2,813 officers and 262 community support officers in the force.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards the target of increasing rail freight by 80 per cent. by 2010 as stated in his Department's Transport Ten Year Plan of 2000; what the baseline year is against which this target is being measured; and how much rail freight there was in each year since 2000. (232008)

The potential rail freight growth figure of up to 80 per cent. quoted in the Department for Transport's 10 year plan of 2000 was not a target. It was always recognised that actual growth would depend on a number of factors—in particular, the success of private sector rail freight operators in delivering improvements in performance and efficiency.

Detailed rail freight statistics covering the years from 2000 to 2008 are published in the Office for Rail Regulation's Rail Trends document on its website:

www.rail-reg.gov.uk

and by the Department for Transport in its Transport Statistics for Great Britain document on its website:

www.dft.gov.uk.

Since 2000-01 the amount of rail freight moved has increased by 17 per cent. In the last 18 months the Government have announced record levels of rail freight investment to support continued growth including £200 million towards the development of a strategic freight network and over £150 million of funding towards the provision of infrastructure enhancement for freight through the Productivity Transport Innovation Fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what recent steps the Government has taken to publicise the dangers of playing on or near railway tracks to young people; (232224)

Network Rail's ‘No Messin’!’ campaign seeks to reduce crime and trespass on the railway by young people. It has been developed to appeal to them by using a style and language they will understand. Network Rail's initiative is reinforced by campaigns run by train operators to educate children in schools about the dangers of trespassing on the railway.

These measures are further supported by the British Transport Police who work with the industry to reduce incidents of crime and trespass.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards the target of creating 25 new rapid transit lines in major cities and conurbations by 2010 as stated in his Department's Transport 10 Year Plan of 2000; how many new rapid transit lines were created in each year since 2000; and by what percentage light rail passenger journeys have increased since 2000. (232012)

The Ten Year Plan published in July 2000 set out indicative figures for the number of light rail schemes that might be delivered by 2010. This was neither a target nor a commitment for the Government.

The following light rail lines have been opened since 2000:

The following schemes are in preparation;

Light rail passenger journeys in England increased by 90 per cent. between 1999-2000 and from 98 million to 186 million passenger journeys in 2007-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has authorised the erection of road signs which indicate metric rather than imperial measurements. (232445)

[holding answer 3 November 2008]: The Department for Transport has not authorised any signs aimed at general road users that display metric measurements only.

For a traffic sign to be lawful, it must be either prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) (2002) or be authorised by the Secretary of State. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the devolved Administrations authorise non-prescribed signs for the roads in their areas.

TSRGD provides for the use of imperial measurements for distance and speed. Certain prescribed traffic signs may show metric units of measurement together with the corresponding imperial units—such as signs indicating maximum height or width restrictions. However, metric is not permitted as a replacement for imperial on such signs.

The Department has authorised the use of driver location signs and a limited number of distance marker posts for the trunk road and motorway network. These indicate an established referencing system, which uses metric units, to enable the emergency services to locate the scene of an incident without any confusion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in achieving the target of reducing road congestion below 2000 levels as stated in his Department's Transport Ten Year Plan of 2000; against what baseline this target is being measured; and how much road congestion there was in each year since 2000, broken down by region. (232009)

The Ten Year Plan gave an indicative figure for congestion on inter-urban trunk roads which was formalised in the SR2002 PSA target: to reduce congestion on the inter-urban road network in England below 2000 levels by 2010. However, subsequently the Government set out the case for new congestion performance targets in The Future of Transport White Paper published in July 2004. A new target was set in SR2004.

The baseline for the SR2004 target was published in February 2006 using new sources of journey time data. Inter-urban journey time reliability performance has since been regularly published against this baseline. The latest provisional data show the current level of performance for the 10 per cent. slowest journeys, which is the PSA measure, to be around the SR2004 baseline level for the year August 2004 to July 2005. This is also the case for all journeys.

Differences in sources used and in measurement mean that it is not possible to produce a consistent series of data from 2000 and report on trunk road congestion in Ten Year Plan terms. Also, data are not readily available at regional level as the current measure is based on routes which extend outside regional boundaries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in achieving the target of undertaking 80 major trunk road schemes to improve safety and traffic flows at junctions by 2010 as stated in his Department's Transport Ten Year Plan of 2000; and what major trunk road schemes were (a) started and (b) completed in each year since 2000. (232010)

The Ten Year Plan published in July 2000 set out a broad package of measures for improving transport. Over the 10 year period individual projects in the Highways Agency's programmes would flow from the outcome of multi-modal studies and decisions taken through regional transport strategies. Although the plan gave an indicative figure for trunk road schemes this is not a target that the Government monitor performance against.

Two tables have been placed in the Libraries of the House. Table A shows the Highways Agency major trunk road schemes started in each year since 2000 while table B shows schemes opened to traffic in each year since 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Chelmsford on 21 October 2008, Official Report, column 155, on traffic congestion, which (a) causes of and (b) locations prone to road accidents and collisions on the A12 in Essex will be prioritised for road safety improvement funding; and what funding he plans to make available for such improvements in the next three years. (232041)

Personal injury accidents on the motorway and trunk road network are monitored on a continuous basis by the Highways Agency and reported in its annual safety report. Accidents are reviewed on a route basis, and locations with disproportionately more accidents are prioritised for remedial action.

With regards to the A12 in Essex, in the period 2008-09 to 2011-12, the Highways Agency is intending to spend up to around £22 million on major maintenance improvements at Kelvedon and Witham and £2.5 million on an auxiliary lane southbound between Hatfield Peverel and Witham. All of these significant interventions will have some beneficial impact on safety, and other minor safety works are also planned. This work will be subject to availability of funding and prioritisation against other works on the strategic road network within the Eastern region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward legislative proposals to include cats within the provision of section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988; and if he will make a statement. (232487)

[holding answer 3 November 2008]: There are no legislative proposals to include cats within the provision of section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 which requires a driver to report accidents involving animals such as horses, cattle, asses, mules, sheep, pigs, goats and dogs. This requirement arises from their status as working animals.

There is no obligation to report all animal deaths on roads. The police advise drivers that, if possible, they should make inquiries to ascertain the owner of the cat and advise them of the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the percentage change in active rolling stock has been since 1997. (232024)

The Department for Transport does not keep the detailed information required. However, we know that in May 1995, the number of vehicles on lease was 10,401 and, as of today, the number on lease on the rail network is around 11,150, an increase of approximately 7.2 per cent. It should also be noted that a further 1,300 vehicles will be delivered as part of high level output specification (HLOS), of which 423 have already been ordered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) public investment, (b) private capital investment and (c) public resource expenditure was spent on (i) rail, (ii) strategic roads, (iii) London transport, (iv) local transport and (v) other transport in each year since 2000, in (A) nominal and (B) real terms. (232006)

The following table shows the public investment (capital) and public resource spending within the Department for Transport's departmental expenditure limit (DEL) on rail, strategic roads, London, local transport and other transport for each year since 2002-03. (Owing to classification, accounting and boundary changes comparable figures for earlier years are not available.)

These figures do not include capital spending by local authorities funded through prudential borrowing, nor revenue spending by local authorities funded through general grant (paid by CLG) and council tax.

Data providing a comprehensive statement of private capital investment in these areas are not available.

The following table sets out the DEL spending shown above, expressed in real terms with a 2007-08 price base.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of all regulatory impact assessments for (a) road projects and (b) other major transport infrastructure projects conducted since 1997. (232033)

The Department for Transport does not undertake regulatory impact assessments for road or other transport infrastructure projects as they are not regulatory in nature. Infrastructure projects are assessed in line with the new approach to appraisal (NATA) guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what payments his Department has made to local authorities in Tyne and Wear for a pilot study under the Transport Innovation Fund; and what plans he has for the future funding of People in Motion. (231944)

Tyne and Wear authorities have received a total of £1.7 million pump priming funding from the Department for Transport's Transport Innovation Fund. This funding was provided to support the development of Transport Innovation Fund packages that address local congestion problems combining demand management, including road pricing, with better public transport. We are awaiting the outcome of the work that has been carried out by Tyne and Wear's People in Motion partnership.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to amend the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 to permit the voluntary display of the Union Flag or other national identifiers. (232311)

[holding answer 3 November 2008]: We have announced our intention to allow the voluntary display of national flags on vehicle number plates in England, Scotland and Wales. We are looking at how this can be brought forward as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that drivers may legally display the (a) Union Flag, (b) flag of Saint Andrew and (c) flag of Saint George on car registration plates. (232494)

[holding answer 3 November 2008]: We have announced our intention to allow the voluntary display of national flags on vehicle number plates in England, Scotland and Wales. We are looking at how this can be brought forward as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the sources of funding are of the Better Government for Older People initiative. (232813)

The information is in the following list..

Better Government for Older People Anticipated Sources of Funding 2008-09

Department for Work and Pensions grant in aid

Anchor Trust grant

Local Authorities subscriptions

Primary Care Trust subscriptions

Fire and Rescue organisation subscriptions

Police Associations subscriptions

Local Strategic Partnerships subscriptions

Recoverable VAT

Bank Interest

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the community allowance pilots. (231485)

We jointly announced with the Department for Communities and Local Government in Communities in Control: real people, real power (CM7427) that the CREATE Consortium could pilot the community allowance within the existing benefits and permitted work structure. This was part of ongoing discussions with the Department for Communities and Local Government to explore how to promote paid community work for out of work benefit claimants to improve their chances of moving into work and benefit the community in which they live.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce a community allowance as part of the new employment and support allowance regime. (231487)

We have always made clear that the CREATE consortium will be able to pilot the community allowance within the existing benefits and permitted work structure. We would want to see a full evaluation of the allowance and the impact on improving benefit claimants' chances of moving into work before we considered whether to introduce it more widely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) have been made by people claiming damage by hepatitis A or hepatitis B vaccines; for what reasons unsuccessful claimants for payment in respect of these vaccines have been informed that if they wish to appeal they must do so within six years; and for what reason hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines are not included in the VDPS. (228905)

The Vaccine Damage Payments scheme only covers vaccines that are recommended as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme. The scheme does not cover hepatitis A or hepatitis B vaccines because they are not currently included in the childhood immunisation programme.

The Department does not collect information about the number of claims made by people claiming damage from hepatitis A or hepatitis B vaccines as this information is not required for the administration of the scheme.

People who make a vaccine damage payment claim in relation to vaccines not covered by the scheme are still given the right to appeal decisions they may disagree with. This practice helps ensure that customers have another opportunity to provide further information in support of their claim.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households were in receipt of council tax benefit in each year since 1985; and how much was spent on council tax benefit in each of those years. (229889)

Information on council tax benefit is available only from 1993-94 when it was introduced. The available information is in the following tables:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people he estimates were (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of council tax benefits in (i) London, (ii) the London Borough of Hillingdon and (iii) Uxbridge constituency in each year since 1997 for which figures are available. (231801)

Estimates of the numbers eligible for council tax benefit are not available below the level of Great Britain. It is, therefore, not possible to provide estimates of the numbers entitled in London, the London borough of Hillingdon, and the constituency of Uxbridge.

The available information on recipients of council tax benefit for London and the London borough of Hillingdon is in the following table. Information is not available broken down by parliamentary constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps the Government has taken to improve health and safety regulation. (224315)

[holding answer 6 October 2008]: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is committed to better, smarter health and safety legislation. In December 2007 it published its second Simplification Plan¹, which set out how it was reducing the administrative burden of health and safety regulation on businesses and making compliance easier, in particular for low risk, small and medium sized enterprises.

Among the regulatory improvements detailed in the plan was the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, which consolidated four sets of regulations, and improved the process for proving competency.

HSE is also improving guidance on regulations to help businesses understand and comply. For example, it has produced 29 example risk assessments for different sectors, showing businesses that a risk assessment does not need to be complicated.

Finally, the Better Regulation Executive has carried out a review of the health and safety regulatory regime, particularly for lower risk small businesses². This has made several recommendations for improvement. Of those addressed to HSE, some are already being addressed through HSE's simplification work. Others will be considered through the development and subsequent implementation of HSE's new strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what dates in each of the last five years his Department informed the House of the creation of contingent liabilities relating to his Department or its non-departmental public bodies. (232720)

Details of contingent liabilities are contained in the departmental resource accounts each year. The dates on which these accounts were laid in the House over last five years were:

2007-08: 21 July 2008

2006-07: 24 July 2007

2005-06: 7 November 2006

2004-05: 26 January 2006

2003-04: 18 January 2005

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many civil servants working in his Department and its agencies have pensions with a cash equivalent transfer value of over £1 million. (229541)

It is not appropriate to disclose pension information for civil servants other than board members whose details are shown in the Remuneration Report in annual Resource Accounts. A copy of the Resource Accounts for the Department for Work and Pensions and its agencies for financial year 2007-08 can be found in the Library or accessed electronically using the following links:

Department for Work and Pensions Resource Accounts 2007-08 (pages 34 to 38 refer)

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2008/res_acc/report_2007_08.pdf

Jobcentre Plus Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 (pages 22 to 25 refer)

http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCP/stellent/groups/jcp/documents/websitecontent/dev_015683.pdf

Child Support Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 (pages 30 to 32 refer)

http://www.csa.gov.uk/en/PDF/reports/annual_report_08.pdf

The Pension Service Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 (pages 52 to 55 refer)

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pdf/annualreport/appendices.pdf

Disability and Carers Service Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 (pages 47 to 49 refer)

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2007/dcs/dcs-ar-06-07.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what work programme has been put in place for his Department's strategy team; and if he will make a statement. (232378)

The Strategy Unit carries out a range of projects to underpin the strategic objectives of the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which companies were used by his Department for providing temporary staff in each of the last five years; and what the value of contracts with each such company was in each of those years. (229076)

A list of companies and organisations that provided temporary staff to the Department for the last three years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 and the expenditure with each company and organisation during those years is provided in the following table. Information for the two previous years 2003-04 and 2004-05 is not available.

The expenditure provided for “temporary staff” includes both clerical and administrative personnel, and other interim, specialist and professional personnel including interim managers (this primarily covers the specialist areas of IT, finance, project and programme management, HR, procurement and communications). It is not possible to provide separate details of expenditure on the different categories of temporary and professional and technical staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what training and guidance his Department gives on length of awards to staff making decisions on the award of disability living allowance and attendance allowance; and if he will make a statement; (230092)

All claims for disability living allowance (DLA) and attendance allowance (AA) are decided by decision makers who are required to make decisions fairly and impartially based on the application of the law to the facts of the individual case.

Decision makers’ training covers all available legal, medical and procedural guidance that pertains to periods of award, to enable them to determine what period of award is appropriate.

The Department provides decision makers with guidance on deciding the duration of awards within the Decision Makers Guide and the Decision Makers Procedural Guide. In addition, comprehensive up to date medical guidance has been developed and approved by medical experts in their field, for the majority of impairments that give rise to claims for DLA and AA. The guidance for each impairment includes interpretation of clinical information, definitions of clinical technology and guidance on the likely duration of the care and/or mobility needs arising from that impairment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how often recipients of the mobility component of disability living allowance who list as a disability (a) AIDS, (b) arthritis, (c) back problems, (d) blindness, (e) chest disease, (f) deafness, (g) diabetes, (h) epilepsy, (i) frailty, (j) heart disease, (k) learning difficulties, (l) malignant disease, (m) mental health causes, (n) multiple sclerosis and (o) muscle, joint or bone problems have their awards reassessed. (230232)

The information is not available.

Once entitlement to disability living allowance is established, the frequency of reassessment varies according to the individual circumstances of the case. For example, a claim may be reassessed if a customer reports a change in their circumstances, or information is received suggesting that there has been a change of circumstances since the original award of benefit was made. In addition, where a fixed period award is nearing its end point, the customer is invited to submit a new claim which is then assessed on the current evidence before a new decision is made on entitlement. Other claims may continue throughout the period of the award without being reassessed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of applications for (a) disability living allowance and (b) attendance allowance have been refused in each of the last three years. (232199)

[holding answer 3 November 2008]: The available information is in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents of Bexleyheath and Crayford receive the (a) lower and (b) higher rate of the mobility component of the disability living allowance. (232285)

The available information is in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many staff were employed by the (a) Employment Service and (b) Benefits Agency in each year for which records are available, broken down by region; (231474)

The Benefits Agency was established on 10 April 1991. The Employment Service was established on 2 April 1990. Both ceased to exist after March 31 2002 when Jobcentre Plus and The Pension Service were launched.

Historical staffing statistics for each Agency can be found in Civil Service Statistics at:

www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics.

A breakdown of the staffing statistics at regional level is not available.

Information on average salaries would be available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidelines have been issued to Jobcentre Plus employees in relation to making individuals better off in work calculations; which benefits or funding streams are (a) included and (b) excluded from the calculation; and if he will make a statement. (226839)

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:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what guidelines have been issued to Jobcentre Plus employees in relation to making individuals better off in work calculations; which benefits or funding streams are (a) included and (b) excluded from the calculation; and if he will make a statement. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

An extensive range of learning is available to equip Personal Advisers to use the Better Off Calculator effectively. Personal Advisers attend a two-day technical event which instructs them on how to use the calculator. Up-to-date learning material and comprehensive technical guidance is also available. The Better Off Calculator has been designed to navigate the user through a series of pre-set screens and this helps to ensure that all relevant information is captured.

A Better Off Calculation takes into account the following benefits, credits and statutory payments:

Attendance Allowance

Bereavement Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Child Benefit

Child Special Allowance

Child Tax Credit

Constant Attendance Allowance

Council Tax Benefit

Disability Living Allowance

Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Guardian’s Allowance

Housing Benefit

Incapacity Benefit

Income Support

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Maternity Allowance

Pension Credit

Second Adult Rebate

Severe Disablement Allowance

State Pension

Statutory Adoption Pay

Statutory Maternity Pay

Statutory Paternity Pay

Statutory Sick Pay

War Disablement Pension

War Widow’s Pension

Widowed Parents Allowance

Working Tax Credit

It also takes in to consideration the following income types:

Child Maintenance payments

Savings

Capital

Personal/Occupational Pension

Other Income

Benefits in payment

Tax Credits (including 50+ additional WTC) in payment

Work details—Income/expenses

Income from Borders

Income from current/previous tax year-

Taxable Social Security Benefit

Employee earnings

Benefits in kind

Self employed earnings

Other earnings

All other incomes are not taken in to consideration.

At present, there are some limitations to the calculations the Better Off Calculator can perform, especially where there are complex rules or when discretion has to be applied; for example, with self-employment cases, students or persons from abroad when a calculation has to be done manually. Jobcentre Plus updates the Better Off Calculator twice each year to capture legislative changes, new initiatives and to implement further improvements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the (a) total and (b) average amount paid to households receiving local housing allowance above the five bed rate was in the most recent month for which figures are available, broken down by the smallest geographical area for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; (230283)

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects on vulnerable people of direct payments of housing benefit. (232814)

[holding answer 3 November 2008]: Two of the intended effects of the local housing allowance are to promote financial independence and personal responsibility. Therefore payments are normally made directly to tenants so they have personal responsibility for paying their rent. However, we recognise that there will always be a small proportion of tenants who will struggle with this, so there are circumstances in which the local authority has the power to pay benefit direct to the landlord.

These are if the local authority either considers that the tenant is likely to have difficulty in relation to the management of their own affairs—for example, the tenant is known to have a learning disorder or a drug/alcohol problem that would mean they are likely to have difficulty handling a budget—or considers it improbable that the tenant will pay their rent; for example, the local authority is aware that the tenant has consistently failed to pay the rent on past occasions without good reason.

Additionally, in housing benefit generally, payment direct to the landlord is a statutory requirement if a tenant has built up rent arrears of eight weeks or more, or is having deductions from their income support or jobseeker's allowance to pay off rent arrears. If this occurs, the local authority has the discretion to continue paying direct to the landlord when the level of arrears drops to below eight weeks.

We plan to review the LHA, which was rolled out nationally from April 2008, during the first two years of operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people on incapacity benefit who are capable of entering employment. (225425)

Incapacity benefit is a benefit for people whom, due to ill health or disability, it would be unreasonable to require to work. People who are able to work can claim jobseeker’s allowance.

However, with help and support, many people on incapacity benefits are able to move into work. Through Pathways to Work, we support people on incapacity benefits to prepare to return to work. Pathways to Work has helped over 94,000 claimants into work since October 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will make a statement on his plans for the reorganisation of Jobcentre Plus offices and processing centres in the South East of England; (228031)

[holding answer 20 October 2008]: 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:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking if he will make a statement on his plans for the reorganisation of Jobcentre Plus offices and processing centres in the South East of England; and if he will make a statement on the future of the Jobcentre Plus office at Sunley House, Aylesbury. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

Since 2002 Jobcentre Plus has completed a national modernisation programme to improve levels of service to all our customers through new style Jobcentres, Contact Centres, Benefit Delivery Centres and the Internet. The roll out of Jobcentre Plus in the South East was completed with the opening of our new Portsmouth Jobcentre Plus office on 24 September 2008. The Jobcentre Plus network in the South East currently consists of 73 Jobcentres and 8 Benefit Delivery Centres.

Our customers expect to access our services like any other organisation, as easily, directly and flexibly as possible. We are, therefore, offering far more of our services, both to employers and individual customers, through our Contact Centre network and the Internet. Customers making a benefit claim or enquiry can call a 0800 number to provide claim details by phone, this is free to landline users, with a call back facility available for those using mobile phones. This reduces the need to call into a Jobcentre and increasingly our offices are used for booked appointments only. In addition, we are providing a more individual service for our most disadvantaged customers, delivered in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Social Fund services to most of the region are provided by the Jobcentre Plus Benefit Delivery centre in Bowback House, Milton Keynes. The former Social Security Office Sunley House in Aylesbury has been used for some Social Fund work on a temporary basis until sufficient space became available in Milton Keynes.

We have now acquired sufficient space in Bowback House, Milton Keynes to house the Sunley House Social Fund operations. The current planning assumption is that Social Fund work will migrate to Milton Keynes Benefit Delivery Centre by 31 March 2009. This will allow Jobcentre Plus to close Sunley House and realise a saving to its estate costs of approximately £420,000 in 2009/10.

All Social Fund staff in Sunley House have been given the opportunity to redeploy to Milton Keynes Benefit Delivery Centre. A number of staff have already done so. Staff will also be able to apply for other Department for Work and Pensions vacancies at Aylesbury and Chesham Jobcentres as well as vacancies within HMRC in the Aylesbury area.

Services to Jobcentre Plus customers in Aylesbury will not be affected by the closure of Sunley House as Social Fund payments to Aylesbury customers will be made from the Jobcentre in Heron House which is just a few hundred yards away.

I hope you find this information helpful. I have asked Paul Williams (Customer Services Director for the South East) to contact you to arrange a suitable time to discuss your concerns either by phone or face to face, whichever is more convenient for you. However, if you would like to contact Paul directly in the meantime his number is: 01483 446065.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobcentres have closed in each month since 1 January 2007; how many are scheduled for closure in the next year; and if he will make a statement. (228898)

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:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking how many Jobcentres have closed in each month since 1st January 2007, and how many are scheduled for closure in the next year. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

The following table provides a month by month breakdown of the 81 Jobcentre Plus office closures between 1 January 2007 and October 2008.

Three Jobcentres which are currently open to the public are scheduled for closure this year. They are all within Jobcentre Plus London Region: Brixton Hill, Feltham and Orpington. All three have been subject to a rigorous consultation process. Other than these, no decisions have yet been taken on further closures over the next 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what records Jobcentre Plus has of the number of items of mail it has sent through the Royal Mail signed for services which have been (a) lost and (b) misplaced in the last 12 months. (231140)

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) use the Recorded Delivery and Special Delivery service, which are signed for postal services provided by Royal Mail. DWP business users of these services are responsible for reporting any misplaced or lost items directly to Royal Mail and records of lost or misplaced items are therefore not held centrally within DWP or centrally within Jobcentre Plus. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2008, Official Report, columns 19-20, on job centres, what his definition is of front line staff; and how many (a) full-time equivalent staff and (b) front line full-time equivalent staff were employed in each job centre in Argyll and Bute in each year since 2004. (229892)

[holding answer 27 October 2008]: 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:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question, pursuant to the Answer of 20"1 October, Official Report, columns 19-20, on jobcentres, what his definition is of front line staff; and how many (a) full-time equivalent staff and (b) front line full-time equivalent staff were employed in each jobcentre in Argyll and Bute in each year since 2004.

The number of frontline full time equivalent staff employed in the following Jobcentres in Argyll and Bute is as follows. All staff working in a Jobcentre are regarded as frontline staff.

It should be noted that the activities carried out in Jobcentres in 2008 are not the same as those carried out in 2004 as a result of the transfer of processing activities to Benefit Delivery Centres. For this reason it could be misleading to compare the staffing levels year on year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) Jobcentre Plus staff and (b) customer-facing Jobcentre Plus staff there are planned to be (i) in total, (ii) in each region and (iii) in each Jobcentre Plus district in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. (230435)

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:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many (a) Jobcentre Plus staff and (b) customer facing Jobcentre Plus staff there were (i) in total, (ii) in each region and (iii) in each Jobcentre Plus district in each of the next 3 years; and if he will make a statement. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

The Department’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) 2007 settlement provides for the following staffing numbers in Jobcentre Plus:

We do not have a future breakdown of this staffing by the categories you request.

Our plans are under active review in the light of the current economic situation. We are already planning for Jobcentre Plus to have 2,000 more staff than the original assumption to enable us to respond to increasing numbers of customers. We do not yet have the detailed plans which describe the revised numbers for this year below a national level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many maternity allowance claims remained unprocessed at the end of each quarter in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement; (230290)

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:

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your questions on the processing of Maternity Allowance applications. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

The target for clearing Maternity Allowance claims is 20 days and we expect to clear 4,800 claims within this timescale. Therefore, our normal “head of work”, which is the amount of claims we expect to have outstanding at any one time, is 4,800 claims. Statistical information regarding Maternity Allowance claims is only available from April 2006. We have provided quarterly data from April 2006 to September 2008.

Clearance times for Maternity Allowance increased slightly this year over the summer months resulting in a backlog of 7,000 cases awaiting action. This was as a result of an increase in births leading to an increase in Maternity Allowance applications by a fifth. This increase also coincided with the centralisation of the administration of Maternity Allowance claims between December 2007 and August 2008 into four Benefit Delivery Centres covering the whole country and a temporary dip in productivity associated with retraining existing members of staff. The backlog has now been cleared and we have returned to our normal “head of work”.

Information relating to the proportion of Maternity Allowance claims processed within 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 49 and 63 days is not held.

Statistical information regarding details of staff working on Maternity Allowance claims is only available from April 2006. We have provided quarterly data from April 2006 to June 2008. Data for the second quarter of 2008 is not yet available, however, we have provided the average figure incorporating August 2008 data.

The figures quoted relate to staff working on Maternity Allowance new claims and maintenance activities and also include any general support duties and related Maternity Allowance work, including acting as telephone point of contact for all enquiries relating to claims and maintenance. It should be noted however, that before benefit centralisation many staff working on other benefits often helped on Maternity Allowance and this work would not have been recorded on the system. Therefore figures are not comparable year on year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made on his Department’s mediation with a counsellor initiative; and if he will make a statement. (231818)

[holding answer 30 October 2008]: The Department has successfully been running a mediation pilot for employees in selected parts of Jobcentre Plus and Pension, Disability and Carers Service since 9 June 2008. The pilot offers mediation as a voluntary alternative to the formal grievance procedures. The pilot is due to finish on 9 January 2009 and it will then be evaluated. Following this a decision will be taken about whether to offer mediation on a permanent basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average response time was for new pensions credit applications in (a) Eastbourne constituency, (b) East Sussex and (c) the UK in each of the last 12 months. (231844)

The information is not available at the level requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of pension credit applications received by the Pension Service in the last 12 months have been repeat applications. (231845)

The Agency does not have any information on the volume of repeat applications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pension credit applications the Pension Service received in each of the last 12 months. (231847)

The Pension Service has received a total of 280,893 applications for pension credit in the last 12 months. The following table shows the total number of applications received for each of the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners claimed free bus travel in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK in each year since its inception. (231417)

I have been asked to reply.

Concessionary travel is administered at a local level therefore the Government do not hold historic pass holder data. However, due to the recent reissue of passes for the introduction of the England-wide concession, the Government collected data concerning numbers of pass holders from each travel concession authority.

The totals for Jarrow and the metropolitan borough of South Tyneside are both included in the figures for Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. In October 2007 Nexus reported a total of 219,073 elderly and disabled pass holders. The total for the North East region was 460,094 and for England as a whole 7,491,416.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the accuracy of information provided on the telephone by Pensions Service staff about the future of the Post Office card account; and if he will make a statement. (232314)

[holding answer 3 November 2008]: We continually monitor our communications and issue appropriate reminders and updates to staff.

Customers are being provided with information about the Post Office card account and around 12,500 new card accounts are being opened every month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent representations he has received on the future of the Post Office card account. (232678)

I and my ministerial colleagues have received a number of letters on the future of the Post Office card account. We have also answered questions in the House and responded to points raised during debates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) West Chelmsford constituency and (b) the Chelmsford local authority area have a Post Office card account. (233139)

The answer is not available in the precise format requested.

The following table shows the number of benefit and pension accounts paid into a Post Office card account in (a) the West Chelmsford constituency and (b) the Chelmsford local authority area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing time for (a) disability living allowance and (b) pension credit applications was (i) in each of the smallest geographical areas for which information is available and (ii) in total in each quarter of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. (230481)

The information is as follows:

(a) Disability living allowance

Please see the following table giving the DLA New Claim (Normal Rules) year to date (YTD) average actual clearance times (AACT) in each of the new claim business units for DLA for each quarter of the last five years and the equivalent DLA national figure.