Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many private finance initiative projects his Department contracted for in each year from 1997 to 2010.
Answered by Steve Webb
The information requested is published on the link below. The data can be filtered by procuring authority and then by date of financial close in order to determine how many PFI projects were contracted by Department in a specific year.
· https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-finance-initiative-projects-2013-summary-data.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total private finance initiative liabilities of his Department are for the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Webb
The Department has three current private finance initiative contracts:
1. The Private Sector Resource Initiative for the Management of the Estate (PRIME). A 20 year PFI partnership awarded on 1st April 1998 to Trillium (now Telereal Trillium). PRIME delivered a transfer of property ownership of the DWP estate and outsourced most facilities management services. The PRIME contractor is responsible for all landlord and property related tasks, delivers a total maintenance programme and provides all building related services.
2. Health and Safety Laboratory, Buxton. A 30 year contract awarded on 1st April 2002 to Interserve plc.
3. Health and Safety Executive, New Merseyside Centre, Redgrave Court, Bootle. A 30 year contract awarded on 1st October 2003 to Honeywell Control Systems, supported by Reliance FM as the prime facilities management provider.
The remaining financial liabilities for each contract between 2014/15 and its expiry date are:
PRIME 2014/15 to 2017/18 £2,074.47m
HSL 2014/15 to 2034/5 £278.79m
HSE 2014/15 to 2034/5 £244.73m
Total £2,597.99m
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for the implementation of universal credit in Brighton and Hove; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Mark Harper
I refer the hon, member to the Written Ministerial Statement made by my Rt. Hon. Friend, Iain Duncan Smith on Monday 13th October 2014.
The Secretary of State announced the next stage of implementing Universal Credit to all remaining Jobcentres and Local Authorities as we progress national expansion through 2015/16 and secure delivery of Universal Credit across Great Britain.
Currently, officials in my Department are working with delivery partners on the detailed schedule for national roll out. The finalised details will be made available in due course.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce energy costs in his Department; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Webb
DWP is engaged in numerous energy efficiency projects which can be split into two main types:-
1) Site specific projects –Consumption information is analysed to identify buildings with high usage patterns, which have the scope to offer significant savings from implementing a range of projects such as lighting improvements.
2) Technical projects – focusing on energy saving products across the estate such as installation of Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors onto hot water boilers, Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRV), and installation of Automatic Meter Readers which provide accurate, real time energy consumption data facilitating targeted action on high consumption buildings.
DWP’s network of volunteer “Environmental Champions” continue their essential role in encouraging colleagues to save energy, supported by an interactive e-learning package for all staff, providing guidance on how to reduce energy consumption.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the current level of the benefit cap; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Webb
I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Answer given by the Minister for Employment which was provided to the Hon. Member for North West Leicestershire (Andrew Brigden) on 1 September 2014, Official Report, column 41W.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the effects of the benefits cap on reducing unemployment in Brighton, Kemptown constituency; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Esther McVey
The DWP will be evaluating the benefit cap policy and, where possible, its impact on movement into work later this year and expect to publish these findings in autumn 2014.
The latest official Benefit cap statistics, available at
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/341890/benefit-cap-may-2014.pdf, show that by May 2014, 120 households had been capped in Brighton Kemptown constituency. Amongst the 54 households that are no longer capped, 17 have moved into work, as shown by them having an open Working Tax Credit claim. In addition to this there may be a small number of cases who have moved into work with sufficiently high salaries that they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the effects of the under-occupancy penalty on social housing tenants in (a) Brighton and Hove and (b) East Sussex; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Esther McVey
The information requested is not available.
On a national scale, reversing the removal of spare room subsidy policy would cost the tax-payer approximately £500 million per annum.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review his departmental estate in order to reduce costs; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Webb
DWP undertakes regular reviews of its estate to ensure it delivers the best service for claimants and employers whilst delivering best value for money for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Simon Kirby (Conservative - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the annual cost to his Department of (a) stationery and (b) postage incurred when sending a ministerial reply to hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Webb
The cost of paper and envelopes incurred in sending ministerial replies to hon. Members and others during the 2013-14 parliamentary session was £618.00.
The information requested on postage costs is not available.