HC Deb 14 May 2002 vol 385 cc577-8W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications have been received for Access to Work money in(a) the Edinburgh, East and Borders district, (b) Scotland and (c) England and Wales. [53038]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

[holding answer 7 May 2002]: The information available is in the table. Before 2001, Access to Work was delivered through a network of Disability Service Teams in Scotland and information on the number of Access to Work applications in Edinburgh, East and Borders district could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Access to Work applications
Edinburgh, East and Borders Scotland England and Wales
2000–01 172 892 11,426
1999–2000 703 9,083
1998–99 485 5,841

Access to Work applications
Edinburgh, East and Borders Scotland England and Wales
1997–98 362 4,800
1996–97 287 3,352
1995–96 792 8,787

Source:

DWP Access to Work Management Information

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money Access to Work has granted to applicants in(a) East Edinburgh and Borders, (b) Scotland and (c) England and Wales. [53039]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

[holding answer 7 May 2002]: The information available is in the table.

Access to Work grants made
Edinburgh East and Borders(£) Scotland(£million) England and Wales(£)
2000–01 1.2 million 2.5 29.9
1999–2000 620,847 1.9 22.5
1998–99 379,975 1.4 18.1
1997–98 320,123 1.1 13.5
1996–97 1 0.9 11.6
1995–96 1 1.5 18.4
19942014;95 1 1.1 14.6
1 Not available. Figures on actual spend for Edinburgh East and Borders can be provided only as far back as the 19972014;98 financial year.

Source:

DWP Access to Work Management Information

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how long the Access to Work scheme has been funded for; if he plans to end the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [53044]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

[holding answer 7 May 2002]: Access to Work has been funded since June 1994, when the programme began.

There are no plans to end the Access to Work programme. On the contrary, Jobcentre Plus is investing in improvements to the delivery of Access to Work and is implementing changes to improve speed of delivery, consistency of decision-making and aftercare.