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  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the skills level of jobseeker’s allowance claimants aged between (a) 18 and 21 and (b) 22 and 24 years.

    Esther McVey

    All jobseeker’s are assessed at the beginning of their claim to Jobseeker’s Allowance for potential skills needs that are a barrier to them finding work. Where a skills need is identified, claimants are referred to courses.

    This Government is committed to ensuring jobseekers have the skills they need to get into work. In 2012/13 171,100 young people aged 19-24 and claiming benefit started a learning course, an increase of 30% over 2011/12.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Rachel Reeves – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the IT system developed by his Department for universal credit will be fully operating; and when this system will start to be decommissioned to make way for the digital solution developed by the Cabinet Office.

    Esther McVey

    As part of the wider transformation in the development of digital services, the Department will further develop the work completed jointly with the Government Digital Service to test and implement an enhanced digital service. This enhanced digital service will integrate work and benefits activity allowing us to deliver the full scope of Universal Credit for all claimant types.

    Our single target operating model sets out how we will transform our approach and ways of working to ultimately make the Universal Credit service fully available online. Where it is both practical and operationally sensible to do so, we will integrate together the enhanced digital service with the existing Universal Credit service.

    We expect an early version of the digital service to be introduced to a limited number of claimants and staff by the end of 2014.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for personal independence payments submitted by people in Preston in 2013 have yet to be determined.

    Mike Penning

    Figures on the number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims outstanding are not available.

    However a breakdown of the statistics published on 5th June 2014 show that during April to December 2013, 820 PIP new claims were registered and 250 decisions were made for individuals living in Preston Local Authority.*

    There are several reasons why a new claim could be registered and awaiting a decision. For example, the claimant is waiting to receive or has not yet returned their PIP 2 How your disability affects you form, the claimant is awaiting their assessment appointment date, the DWP have not yet made a decision on the claim, or the claimant has told DWP that they wish to withdraw their claim.

    *Source: PIP Computer System claimant records

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much revenue has been raised by his Department from employment and support allowance claimants telephoning 0843 515 8650 in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

    Mike Penning

    DWP does not operate any telephone lines starting 0843, and therefore receives no revenue from 0843 515 8650.

    Similarly, DWP is unable to provide any information on the number of employment and support allowance claimants who call 0843 515 8650.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Preston are in arrears to the Child Support Agency.

    Steve Webb

    Information on the number of people in Preston in arrears could not be provided without exceeding the disproportionate cost limit. This is because we would need to check individual cases as a parent can have more than one case.

    As of March 2014, there were 3,1901 Child Support Agency cases in arrears in the Local Authority of Preston.

    Notes:

    1. Figure rounded to the nearest 10.

  • Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Network Rail on the introduction of a passing loop on the South Fylde Line.

    Stephen Hammond

    I have had no discussions with Network Rail on this subject. Network Rail is currently undertaking a Long Term Planning Process in consultation with industry, local and other stakeholders to identify priorities for future development of the rail network following the 2014-2019 Control Period.

  • Luciana Berger – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the strategy for combating liver disease referred to in the Prime Minister’s message of support for World Hepatitis Day, published on the 10 Downing Street website on 28 July 2011.

    Jane Ellison

    Responsibility for determining the overall national approach to improving clinical outcomes from healthcare services, including services for people with liver disease, lies with NHS England.

    NHS England advises that it is adopting a broad strategy for delivering improvements in relation to premature mortality. It is working with commissioners and Public Health England to support clinical commissioning groups to understand where local challenges lie and to identify the evidence in relation to the priorities for reducing mortality at a national level. NHS England is generally not working within a condition specific framework and has no plans to produce a liver specific strategy.

  • John Mann – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    John Mann – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representation he has received from magistrates and the judiciary since 1 June 2014 on service delivery; and if he will seek feedback as part of Test Gate 4 on whether the sale of Community Rehabilitation Companies contracts is having a detrimental impact on sentencing and court processes.

    Jeremy Wright

    On 1 June, as part of our ongoing Transforming Rehabilitation Programme of reform, the new National Probation Service (NPS) and Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) formally commenced operation. My officials have been in regular contact with the judiciary and magistracy throughout the transition process, but we have had no specific representations from them concerning service delivery.

    We have made it clear throughout this process that we will manage the reforms in a controlled way and we will not proceed to share sale until thorough testing is complete and we are satisfied that it is safe to do so.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children aged between (a) 10 and 12, (b) 13 and 14 and (c) 15 and 17 years were held in each secure training centre and secure children’s home in each year since May 2010.

    Jeremy Wright

    Informed by advice from local Youth Offending Teams, the Youth Justice Board places young people who are remanded or sentenced to custody in the secure establishment most appropriate to their needs.

    The spreadsheet shows the average number of children and young people aged between a) 10 and 12, b) 13 and 14 and c) 15 and 17 held in each secure training centre and secure children’s home in each year since 2009/10 (April to March).

    The 2013/14 figures will be published in the 2013/14 Youth Justice Statistics in January 2015.

    These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the success criteria against which the secure college pathfinder will be evaluated.

    Jeremy Wright

    The Ministry of Justice is developing a robust monitoring and evaluation strategy for the Secure College Pathfinder. This will ensure that the most appropriate methods for measuring the performance of the Secure College Pathfinder are in place.

    Detail relating to performance measures against which the Secure College Pathfinder’s construction and operation providers’ performance will be measured will be contained within their individual contracts, which will be published on Contract Finder in due course.