Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of how many residents of the British Overseas Territories in receipt of UK state pensions have had those pensions frozen.
Answered by Steve Webb
There are 14 British Overseas Territories: Anguilla; Bermuda; the British Antarctic Territory; the British Indian Ocean Territory; the British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; the Pitcairn Islands; St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus (Akrotiri and Dhekelia); and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Information on the Overseas Territories in which UK state pensions are paid and the number of cases in payment is available at: http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/sp/cccountry/cnage/a_carate_r_cccountry_c_cnage_may14.html
The tabulation tool distinguishes between those countries where the state pension is up-rated and those countries where the state pension is ‘frozen’. Up-rated state pensions are payable to people living in Bermuda, Gibraltar and the Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus. However it is possible that in some cases state pensions paid in countries where the state pension is ‘frozen’ will be up-rated, for example when someone is only visiting the Territory.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to implement a replacement programme to introduce LED lighting throughout his Department's buildings and sites; if he will estimate the proportion of lighting in his Department which is LED; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Steve Webb
DWP outsourced the ownership and management of its estate, including related facilities management to our accommodation partners Telereal Trillium (TT) as part of a 20 year PFI contract, known as PRIME. Under this PFI arrangement DWP leases back fully serviced accommodation and as such when lighting is due for renewal the choice of replacement is made by TT’s technical experts rather than DWP. TT normal practice, when replacing lighting is to renew with highly energy efficient fluorescent lighting.
The widespread use of this energy efficient fluorescent lighting combined with the high cost of fitting LED lights means a widespread programme of fitting LED lights is not considered cost effective by TT and DWP.
Although a small number of LED lights are fitted at some sites, it is not possible to estimate the proportion as TT do not maintain central records of individual light fittings.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many outstanding investigations for benefit fraud there were of over (a) three, (b) six or (c) 12 months duration in each region and constituent part of the UK on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Harper
This information can only be provided by examining individual investigation files at disproportionate time and cost.
Asked by: Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat - Colchester)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he last met Jobcentre Plus to discuss investigations into benefit fraud.
Answered by Lord Harper
It would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State to discuss individual operational investigations. He has had several meetings to discuss the Department’s approach to targeting fraud and error. His last meeting was on 12 May 2014.