The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-02-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are currently employed at the Tax Credit Office in Preston; and what the projected staffing level at that office is for (a) 2016 and (b) 2017.
Priti Patel
As at 31 January 2015, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) employed a total of 2044 staff within its Preston Tax Credit Office site. This is expected to increase by about 350 in 2016 and 2017.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Davidson on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of people in Glasgow South West constituency who have found work after having had their benefits sanctioned in the last five years.
Esther McVey
The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls were made to (a) The Pension Service, 08456060265, (b) Personal Independence Payment, 08458503322, (c) Carer’s Allowance Unit, 08456084321, and (d) Bereavement benefits, 08456088601, in each of the last five financial years; how much revenue was generated from calls to each of those numbers; and when he plans to end the use of those numbers.
Esther McVey
Please see the attached table – PQ224822 Selected Volumes- detailing volume of calls made to (a) The Pension Service, 08456060265, (b) Personal Independence Payment, 08458503322, (c) Carer’s Allowance Unit, 08456084321, and (d) Bereavement benefits, 08456088601, in each of the last five financial years. (Metric definition and limitations included within the attachment)
For the financial years 2014/15, 2013/14 and 2012/13, DWP received no revenue for the telephone number 08456060265. For the financial years 2014/15 and 2013/14, DWP received no revenue for the telephone number 08458503322. For the financial years 2014/15, 2013/14 and 2012/13, DWP received no revenue for the telephone number 08456084321. For the financial years 2014/15, 2013/14 and 2012/13, DWP received no revenue for the telephone number 08456088601.
DWP is already in the process of replacing all its 0845 number prefixes in use for its national helplines.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the European Social Fund Operational Programme for 2014-20 has been agreed with the European Commission; and when he expects funding from that programme to be released to local enterprise partnerships.
Esther McVey
We are working closely with the European Commission on the Operational Programme, and expect that agreement will be reached shortly, after which we plan to invite applications for funding.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what arrangements his Department has put in place for situations where application forms requesting an increase in local housing allowance (LHA) to cover an increase in rent applied to an eligible LHA claimant are lost by his Department and the applicant consequently faces eviction.
Steve Webb
The Department for Work and Pensions provides funding for Housing Benefit to Local Authorities in Great Britain. Responsibility for the day to day administration of Housing Benefit lies with Local Authorities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann McKechin on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseeker’s allowance applications processed by (a) Maryhill Job Centre and (b) Partick Job Centre were subject to monetary sanctions in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013 and (iv) 2014; and what the average length of such sanctions was in each such year.
Esther McVey
The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) decisions to apply a sanction by Jobcentre Plus office is published at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/
Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:
https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm
Information requested on the average length of sanctions is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Menzies Campbell on 2015-02-12.
To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 3 September 2014 to Question 207315, whether a Shawcross exercise has been conducted in relation to Serious Fraud Office investigations since the date of that Answer; and if he will make a statement.
Jeremy Wright
It is my department’s usual policy not to comment on any live investigation. In the period referred to there have been no Shawcross exercises in respect of any concluded SFO cases.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Lammy on 2015-02-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many people with limited or discretionary leave to remain have had applications for students loans or grants rejected in each year since 2008.
Greg Clark
The Student Loans Company does not hold information on the number of student loan and grant applicants with limited or discretionary leave to remain that have had their application rejected for the years requested.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what guidance his Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.
Jo Swinson
The guidance is all staff should ensure they undertake at least 5 days of learning a year as part of the commitment in the Civil Service Reform Capabilities Plan. Learning takes place in many forms including shadowing, taking on development projects, seminars, coaching, e-learning, undertaking research and attending meetings as well as relevant courses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff employed in his Department was in each of the last three financial years.
Jo Swinson
The majority of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) training budget is delegated to the individual business units. This enables them to target resources to their learning priorities. BIS does not centrally collate details of number of days training undertaken.
To collate this information would incur disproportionate cost.