To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many documents produced by his Department were submitted to the Plain English Campaign for approval for Crystal Mark status in each year since 2005; and how many documents achieved such status in each year. (231124)

The Department of Work and Pensions submitted and obtained the Crystal Mark for 47 products in 2005, 65 in 2006, 48 in 2007 and 19 in 2008.

The Department of Work and Pensions may also have asked the Plain English Campaign to edit products for which the Department did not want the Crystal Mark but details of these are not held.

From August 2008, plain English editing and accreditation have been procured from the Plain Language Commission and details of all the products sent for editing or editing and accreditation are recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on Plain English Campaign training courses in each year since 2005. (231232)

The Department of Work and Pensions do not hold information on the cost of training costs provided by Plain English Campaign in previous years centrally and this could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

From August 2008, plain English training has been procured from the Plain Language Commission and details of the cost will be available centrally.