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13 Mar 2008 : Column 579W—continued
National Insurance: Foreigners
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many national insurance numbers were held by non-UK citizens in (a) 1997, (b) 2002 and (c) the most recent year for which figures are available; and what each figure was as a percentage of total national insurance registrations. [162348]
Mr. Timms: Information on the totality of national insurance numbers held is not available broken down by nationality.
The number of new national insurance number registrations for adult foreign nationals by year of registration for 2002-03 and 2006-07 is published in Table 2 on page 16 of the report “National Insurance Number Allocations to Overseas Nationals entering the UK (previously Migrant Workers Statistics) 2007: Full Report” on the Department's website at:
No figures are available for 1997
The total number of national insurance numbers registered in 2006-07 was 1,539,000. This includes all adult registrations and those registered via the juvenile registration process just prior to age 16.
It is not possible to provide a direct comparison between the number of national insurance numbers
registered to foreign nationals and the total number of national insurance numbers registered because some foreign nationals will obtain a NINO through the juvenile registration process and no numbers are available for this. Also, the data for adult foreign nationals and total NINO registrations are derived in different ways and captured over different periods.
The number of foreign nationals registered with NINOs does not indicate either the number of migrants coming to the UK or the number of foreign nationals in employment. The national insurance figures count all foreign nationals, including those who stay only briefly. ONS immigration statistics define a migrant as someone who stays in the UK for at least a year. Equally, ONS figures are not restricted to arrivals allocated a NINO, for example, non-working students, and family members not requiring a national insurance number.
Partnership Agreement
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the partnership agreement between his Department and Citizens Advice signed in September 2007. [185838]
Mrs. McGuire: The partnership agreement is between Jobcentre Plus and Citizens Advice; a copy has been placed in the Library.
Social Security Benefits
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households receiving benefits of in excess of (a) £30,000 and (b) £25,000 in the most recent year for which figures are available. [181640]
Mr. Plaskitt: It is estimated that there are around 20,000 households receiving either in-work or out-of-work benefits in excess of £30,000 per annum.
It is estimated that there are around 70,000 households receiving either in-work or out-of-work benefits in excess of £25,000 per annum.
Source:
Family Resources Survey, United Kingdom 2005-06
Social Security Benefits: Fraud
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish the findings of the voice risk analysis pilot scheme run by Harrow Council in relation to claims for (a) housing and (b) council tax benefit. [193974]
Mr. Plaskitt: Seven local authority sites are currently testing voice risk analysis technology through pilots that are due to finish at the end of March 2008. The results from the local authorities—including Harrow—will be collated and analysed with a view to making the findings available in the summer.
Unemployment
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what steps a jobseeker is required to take to provide proof that he or she is actively seeking work whilst on holiday; [185886]
(2) what the maximum time is that someone on jobseekers allowance may spend on holiday each year; [185887]
(3) what requirements there are for a person on jobseeker’s allowance on holiday to register with their local jobcentre whilst on holiday if it is different from their local jobcentre whilst at their normal residential address. [186122]
Mr. Timms: Jobseekers are allowed to go on holiday in Great Britain for two weeks in a 12 month period without having to actively seek work. As they do not need look for work during this period no proof of jobsearch is required. There is also no requirement for the jobseeker to register with the Jobcentre local to their holiday residence while away.
The jobseeker must remain within Great Britain, must be available for work during their absence and must provide information to Jobcentre Plus before leaving home concerning the duration of the absence and details of how they may be contacted while away. They must also be willing and able to return home immediately to take up a job if one is offered.
A jobseeker may take longer and more frequent holidays in a 12 month period if they wish. However, if a jobseeker takes more than two weeks holiday in a 12 month period, they will have to continue to demonstrate that they are available for and actively seeking work and to attend the Jobcentre local to their holiday residence at least fortnightly.
Communities and Local Government
Bridging Newcastle Gateshead: Finance
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Government have contributed through Bridging Newcastle Gateshead to costs for (a) the strategic housing staff capacity of the City of Newcastle and (b) (i) the EDAW consultancy and (ii) other consultancy costs incurred in (A) the preparation of the North Central Plan and (B) in relation to the Benwell Scotswood Plan. [191626]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Bridging Newcastle Gateshead (BNG) contribution to work on strategic housing capacity in Newcastle city council, by providing financial contributions for the preparation of area action plans, is projected to be £396,566 in the year up to 31 March 2008.
BNG have contributed £200,000 towards the cost of the North Central Plan that has been led by consultants. This amount is the overall budget and includes costs other than consultancies fees such as the hiring of venues to undertake public consultation.
In relation to the Benwell Scotswood Plan, BNG have contributed £227,000 towards the cost of this project that has been led by EDAW. This amount is the overall budget and includes costs other than consultancies fees such as the hiring of venues to undertake public consultation.
Casinos: Manchester
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will allocate funding to Manchester City Council for costs incurred in relation to preparation for the regional casino. [192405]
John Healey: The decision to apply to the Casino Advisory Panel was a matter for the local authorities concerned.
Council Housing: Overcrowding
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment her Department and its agencies have made of the level of over crowding in social housing; and what statistical measures are used to quantify that level. [194507]
Mr. Iain Wright: Levels of overcrowding are measured through the Survey of English Housing and assessed against the “bedroom standard”, based on the ages and composition of a household. The ‘Survey of English Housing Preliminary Results: 2006-07’ were published on 18 December 2007
Table 9 indicates that the rate of overcrowding in the social rented sector is 5.8 per cent. across England.
In December, the Department published ‘Tackling overcrowding in England: an action plan’ to assist local authorities in developing their own strategies to tackle overcrowding.
Home Information Packs
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 28 January 2008, Official Report, column 117W, on ipsos MORI, if she will place in the Library a copy of the research on post implementation of home information packs; [191635]
(2) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 15 January 2008, Official Report, column 781, to the hon. Member for Welwyn, Hatfield, on home information packs, whether Ipsos MORI has provided an interim report or initial conclusions to her Department. [191671]
Caroline Flint: The Home Information Pack Area Trials—Research Report was published on 6 March 2008. Copies are available in Library of the House.
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 29 January 2008, Official Report, column 230W, on Home Information Packs, whether the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) used to identify a property in a home condition report is the same UPRN used to identify a property by (a) the Valuation Office Agency and (b) the National and Land Property Gazetteer. [191670]
Caroline Flint: The Valuation Office Agency and National Land and Property Gazetteer have their own unique reference property numbers, which are not the same as those generated by the home information pack register.
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many complaints the home information pack redress scheme has received since it was established; how many of these have been upheld; and if she will make a statement. [192629]
Caroline Flint: Communities and Local Government does not hold data on the number of complaints made to home information pack redress schemes. Such data will be included in each scheme's annual report.
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many estate agents have been fined for non-compliance with the home information pack regulations since the packs became mandatory; and if she will make a statement. [192630]
Caroline Flint: Local authority weights and measures authorities and the Office of Fair Trading are responsible for enforcing the home information pack duties through s.166 and s.175 of the Housing Act 2004. The Office of Fair Trading has not received notice of any penalty charges having been served.
Home Information Packs: Eco-Towns
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether home information packs will apply to the sale of houses built in eco-towns. [190513]
Housing: Low Incomes
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to monitor the proportion of affordable housing to be delivered on sites which have recently been granted planning permission by local authorities bidding to be housing growth points; and if she will ensure that account is taken of this proportion when decisions are made on the bids. [192483]
Mr. Iain Wright [holding answer 7 March 2008]: Data for sites granted planning permission for affordable housing are not collected centrally although statistics which show the numbers of affordable dwellings built are available. Affordability is a key emerging priority for many areas and we would expect this to inform local authority proposals for growth point status.
Mr. Pickles:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield, of 31 January 2008, Official Report, column 583W, on housing: low incomes, what the current average annual percentage rate (APR) equivalent interest rate on the non-shared equity element of the Yorkshire Building Society Expanded Open Market Homebuy scheme is; whether the APR varies according to the size of the
borrower's deposit; and whether the APR is variable, capped or fixed; [193775]
(2) whether there is a (a) mortgage indemnity guarantee and (b) arrangement fee charged on the Yorkshire Building Society Expanded Open Market Homebuy scheme; [193776]
(3) on what multiple of (a) a single person's income and (b) a couple's discount, the maximum amount that may be lent is calculated under the Yorkshire Building Society Expanded Open Market Homebuy scheme; [193778]
(4) how much the early redemption penalty for the Yorkshire Building Society Expanded Open Market Homebuy scheme is; and in what circumstances the penalty applies. [193779]
Caroline Flint: The questions do not relate to our low cost home ownership policy. They are in relation to loans offered by a mortgage lender.
The Yorkshire Building Society should be contacted for the detailed information requested.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield, of 31 January 2008, Official Report, column 583W, on housing: low incomes, what (a) minimum borrowers' deposit is required and (b) maximum loan to value is allowed under the Yorkshire Building Society Expanded Open Market Homebuy scheme. [193777]
Caroline Flint: No borrower's deposit is required under the Yorkshire Building Society Expanded Open Market Homebuy scheme. The maximum loan to value allowed under the scheme is 100 per cent.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many completed purchases there have been under the Open Market Homebuy Government Loan Only scheme to date. [193785]
Caroline Flint: Since the Open Market HomeBuy scheme was launched in April 2006, we have helped over 4,600 householders into home ownership.
Since July 2007, there have been 861 completed sales under the Open Market HomeBuy Government Loan Only scheme, to the end of February 2008.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the maximum loan to value ratio is, including the shared equity borrowing permitted, in (a) Open Market Homebuy and (b) Extended Open Market Homebuy. [193940]
Caroline Flint: The maximum loan to value ratio permitted under all the Open Market HomeBuy products, including the shared equity element, is 100 per cent.
Housing: Standards
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much is expected to be spent on bringing homes up to the decent homes standard in the next three years. [191768]
Mr. Iain Wright: It is for local authorities and registered social landlords to determine what they spend on making homes decent using all the resources available to them. The Government make available funding for capital investment purposes.
The resources made available for the next three years from the comprehensive spending review 2007 that local authorities can use to deliver decent homes are in the following table. Final allocations for each year have yet to be determined.
| Funding | |
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Regional housing pot: local authority improvements to, and regeneration of, existing stock (both local authority owned and in the private sector) |
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