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Statistics
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the population of the travel to work areas covering (a) the Isle of Wight, (b) Bournemouth, (c) Southampton and (d) Portsmouth work outside their travel to work area. [45010]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Mr. Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Turner, dated 21 March 2002:
- As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about travel-to-work-areas. (45010)
- The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of employment rates according to the travel-to-work-area (TTWA) in which people are resident. Although information about people's workplace is available from the LFS also, this could only be analysed by TTWA at disproportionate cost.
Employment Statistics (St. Helens)
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the work force in (a) St. Helens, South, (b) the St. Helens metropolitan
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borough council area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the north-west, (f) other regional development area regions and (g) England in (i) 1996, (ii) 1997, (iii) 1998, (iv) 1999, (v) 2000 and (vi) 2001, were employed in (A) manufacturing, (B) hotel and catering, (C) retailing, (D) finance and business services, (E) IT, (F) wholesale and distribution, (G) construction and (H) other services. [44490]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Mr. Len Cook to Mr. Shaun Woodward, dated 21 March 2002:
- As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the percentage of the workforce in various industries and geographies. (44490)
- The available figures are for employee jobs and cover the years 1996 to 2000. Estimates are arranged according to the Standard Industrial Classification, 1992 (SIC92). SIC92 industries do not correspond exactly to those specified in the question and regional development areas are not available.
- I am placing an extract from the Nomis database that provides a close match for your requirement in the House of Commons library. You should note, however, that this does not cover the whole economy. The Nomis database is available to Members and is accessible by library staff.
(17) Including Merseyside
Notes:
1. The percentages are based on aggregates from which agriculture class 0100 (1992 SIC) have been excluded.
2. The numbers in the industry descriptions correspond to industries contained in the Standard Industrial Classification, 1992.
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Governor of the Bank of England
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what date he intends to announce the appointment of the next Governor of the Bank of England; and if he will make a statement. [44404]
Ruth Kelly: The term of office of the current Governor of the Bank of England runs until June 2003. The appointment of the next Governor will be announced in good time to ensure a smooth transition.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Benefits (Administration)
Phil Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to improve the performance of local authorities in administering housing benefit and council tax benefit. [46218]
Malcolm Wicks: Improving the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit is a key part of our reform programme.
We are today launching a set of comprehensive performance standards covering the full range of administration. For the first time local authorities will know exactly what it is we are expecting them to achieve. A copy of the product has been placed in the Library and this month two copies of the package will be sent to every English, Welsh and Scottish authority administering these benefits.
Local authorities will now be able to undertake a comprehensive self-assessment against the standards, to determine how far they deliver these benefits effectively and securely.
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The standards cover seven functional areas and deliberately address the full range of administrative activity, not just speed, accuracy and security. They will provide a basis for measuring performance in administering housing benefit and council tax benefit, enabling local authorities to conduct a self-assessment to determine their own level of performance and to work in an environment of continuous improvement.
In addition, the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate will assess performance against these standards using an authority's self-assessment as part of the inspection process.
The performance standards demonstrate our determination to improve the standard of housing benefit and council tax benefit administration, as part of our wider drive to reduce barriers to work, promote dignity and security in retirement and to protect the system against fraud and error.
Benefit Fraud
Phil Hope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will publish the inspection report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate in respect of the city of Salford council. [46217]
Malcolm Wicks: The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's report on the city of Salford council was published today and copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
The report finds the city of Salford council to be a poorly performing authority in almost all aspects of benefits administration and counter fraud activity.
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BFI reports finding evidence of good policies and procedures, but these were undermined by inadequate implementation or monitoring. For example, a benefit take-up policy existed but there was limited evidence of implementation.
The report identifies a range of examples of poor administration. This includes an inadequate management checking regime, poor standards for verifying claims for benefit, and failure to process all new claims within 14 days of receiving all the necessary information.
Procedures for dealing with changes to claimants' circumstances were found to be flawed and a failure to apply the law was likely to lead to over and under- payments of benefit.
The council had no policy on overpayments. The lack of quality management information and a lack of managerial or supervisory involvement contribute to poor overpayment recovery. In March 2000 the council's recorded overpayment debt stood at almost £5 million and was rising year on year.
While the city of Salford council had a positive counter fraud strategy and had provided officers with a good procedures manual, investigation quality was found to be inadequate. There was no control over investigations, nor over the workload of each investigator which was found to be excessive.
The report makes recommendations to help the council address weaknesses and to improve the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit, as well as counter fraud activities.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is now considering the report and will be asking the council for its proposals in response to the findings and recommendations of the BFI.
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