HC Deb 15 July 2002 vol 389 cc112-3W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the section of his Department's guidance note on replying to written parliamentary questions requiring parliamentary questions to be answered fully, and pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 22 January 2002,Official Report column 808W, for what reason the information requested on 10 June 2002, Official Report, columns 872–73W, was not held in the format requested. [66475]

Mr. McCartney

The answer to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 22 January 2002,Official Report, column 808W, was in response to his question regarding the cost of administering child benefit and working families tax credit. The estimated cost of administering child benefit was taken from the 1998–99 financial year. The estimated cost of administering working families tax credit was provided by Inland Revenue.

The answer provided on 10 June was in response to the hon. Member's request for a variety of individual items, including some sub-components of retirement benefit. The estimated cost of administering benefits is not maintained at such a detailed level. Consequently, it was not possible to provide a reply covering every item listed.

However, in an attempt to be as helpful as possible, the answer given on 10 June 2002, Official Report, columns 872–73W also explained that the Department for Work and Pensions now accounts for its administrative and programme expenditure in accordance with its key objectives, which are published in the Department's

Public Service Agreement (PSA), and the individual Requests for Resources (RfRs), which are published in the Department's Main Estimate.

Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many written parliamentary questions to his Department have been tabled in each month since May 1997. [68481]

Maria Eagle

Such information as is available is in the tables.

Month Written questions tabled
2001
June 108
July 291
September 9
October 371
November 579
December 294
2002
January 432
February 337
March 453
April 249
May 239
June 240

Year (ending April) Case load as at 30 November (thousand) Number of appeals cleared at hearing Number of appeals found in favour of the appellant Percentage of appeals found in favour of the appellant
(i)Attendance Allowance
2000 1,291.3 7,640 3,420 44.8
2001 1,295.4 10,830 5,030 46.4
(ii)Disablity Living Allowance
2000 2,197.7 62,815 30,090 47.9
2001 2,298.0 86,325 45,150 52.3
(iii)Incapacity Benefit
2000 2,310.4 42,285 16,660 40.4
2001 2,342.9 33,910 14,185 41.8

Figures are not available prior to 2000, as a change in the method of recording the type of appeal in the Generic Appeals Processing System as part of the introduction of Decision Making and Appeals regulations resulted in certain benefits being mapped incorrectly.

I hope this is helpful.