here - United Kingdom Parliament

867W
Written Answers
1 DECEMBER 2010
Written Answers
868W
Chris Grayling: The Government are committed to
addressing the heavy toll of deaths in the construction
industry which was highlighted in Baroness Donaghy’s
report. We will therefore progress those of the Donaghy
recommendations accepted by the previous Administration
which we consider are supported by the available evidence.
For example, consistent with recommendation eight of
the Donaghy report, the Government have actively
supported the new specification for “pre-qualification”
criteria in the construction industry, introduced by the
British Standards Institution in October and which has
the potential to radically simplify the prequalification
process for small firms tendering for construction work.
Where, however, we lack firm evidence for particular
recommendations—for example, that directors’ health
and safety duties need to be further strengthened—we
do not propose to take further action at this time.
Industrial Health and Safety: Inspections
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for
Work and Pensions what recent representations he
has received on the work of the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE); and how many sites were formally
inspected by a HSE inspector after a serious accident in
the latest period for which figures are available. [26624]
Chris Grayling: The Secretary of State has the principal
responsibility to Parliament for the Health and Safety
Executive and routinely receives representations on their
work. Recent representations are concerned with a range
of matters relating to the formulation and development
of Government policy.
HSE’s inspectors have investigated 2,021 serious accidents
that occurred between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010,
although some of these investigations are still under
way.
These serious accidents are categorised as fatalities
and major injuries, such as amputations and fractures,
that were reported under the Reporting of Injuries,
Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995
(RIDDOR 95).
Jobcentre Plus: Rural Areas
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for
Work and Pensions what assistance his Department
plans to give to those living in remote rural areas to (a)
access jobcentres to see what vacancies are available
and (b) access the labour market in areas with poor
local transport. [26596]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus
is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus,
Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon.
Member with the information requested.
Letter from Darra Singh:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question
about what assistance his Department plans to give to those living
in remote rural areas to (a) access jobcentres to see what vacancies
are available and (b) access the labour market in areas with poor
local transport. This is something that falls within the responsibilities
delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
Jobcentre Plus is committed to providing all customers, including
those in rural areas, with the help they need to find work as
quickly as possible. We do this through a combination of the
largest network of offices within Government, which is used
primarily to provide face-to-face advice and guidance at the
outset of the claim and at key stages thereafter; and alternative
means of service delivery such as telephony and the Internet.
In terms of plans to help those in remote areas access vacancies,
everyone receives information, advice and guidance at the new
claims interview about how to make best use of appropriate
vacancy sources. As part of this, people receive information about
the Directgov Internet Job Bank and Jobseeker Direct (the Jobcentre
Plus telephony-based vacancy matching service), both of which
provide remote, fast and easy access to thousands of jobs. As a
further development, we have also launched a new application for
the iPhone and Google Android systems, which offers people an
innovative way to search for a job through their telephone handset.
Looking ahead and in transforming our labour market services
still further, we aim to provide a much improved, more efficient
automated service to help employers post and fill vacancies and
jobseekers access available jobs. As part of this, the intention is to
extend the current job search facility to include vacancies from
employer websites and other job boards; and to create secure
customer profiles, which will be used to automatically notify
employers of suitable applicants and individuals of suitable jobs.
In terms of helping people access the labour market in areas
with poor local transport, Jobcentre Plus advisers will offer
information, advice and guidance to claimants and provide access
to measures such as the Travel to Interview Scheme to help with
the cost of attending interviews. We also administer the Adviser
Discretion Fund, which is used to help customers overcome small
challenges preventing them from taking-up the offer of employment.
In appropriate circumstances, the Fund can help with travel to
work costs until receipt of first wages. All awards are at adviser
discretion, taking into account individual customer circumstances
and all awards must represent good value for taxpayer’s money.
Following the coalition Government’s announcement of a
new, integrated work programme coupled with a more flexible
Jobcentre Plus delivery model, we aim to build upon the discretionary
funding currently available to give local managers the ability to
tailor services to local and individual need. This could include the
provision of more help to overcome travel costs and difficulties in
appropriate locations.
Over and above the schemes administered directly by Jobcentre
Plus, there are a number of agreements in place (nationally and
locally) to provide people with discounted travel, for example, in
England and Wales, we have an agreement with the Association
of Train Operating Companies, which offers a 50% discount on
rail travel for longer-term unemployed people. A similar scheme is
in place with Scot Rail and while there is no UK wide discount
scheme for bus travel, many local operators do offer discounted
services to unemployed people.
Jobseeker’s Allowance: Fraud
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for
Work and Pensions how many people were prosecuted
for offences relating to fraudulent claims for jobseeker’s
allowance in Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency in
each of the last three years. [22958]
Chris Grayling: The information requested is not
available.
Information on the numbers of people prosecuted for
benefit fraud in Scotland for the last three years for all
DWP administered benefits is available in the following
table.
Number prosecuted for benefit
fraud in Scotland
2007-08 168
2008-09 139
2009-10 489
Notes:
Information extracted from the Fraud Referral and Intelligence
Management Information System.