House of Commons Hansard Debates for 9 Dec 1991

Mr. Jack : The vast majority of the 1.4 million young people between the age of 16 and 17 are able to exercise their positive choices by remaining in full-time education, getting a job, or entering youth training. However, the Government recognise that a minority need particular help. Income support is available at any time to particular groups such as lone parents, couples with children, carers, or those incapable of work through disablement. Pregnant young women are also automatically entitled to income support during the 11 weeks immediately prior to their expected date of confinement as well as at any time during their pregnancy if they are incapable of work or attending YT. However, pregnancy is not itself an incapacity and training and enterprise councils are expected to provide suitable training to meet the needs of this group. Additionally, help is also available to young people seeking a YT place but who are at risk of severe hardship. Of the 1.4 million 16 and 17-year-olds, fewer than 5,000 are in receipt of income support under the severe hardship provision at any one time. When this policy was introduced the Government agreed to monitor its operation and as part of the exercise commissioned research from the MORI organisation. The findings were detailed in their report "A Survey of 16 and 17 year old

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applicants for Severe Hardship Payments" and a copy of this work was placed in the Library in July. The study comprehensively analysed all aspects of this policy.

Also in July I announced in response to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 16 July at columns 134-36 that the Benefits Agency would be taking a series of measures to make further improvements in the operation of the severe hardship provision, including the assignment of responsibility for 16 and 17-year-olds to a specific assistant manager in each district. Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, has informed me that all these changes have been put into effect. In addition the Benefits Agency is holding a series of conferences for the assistant managers concerned to share good practice and to encourage effective liaison with other agencies concerned, including the careers service, which was also represented. It is likely that these will generate further ideas for improvements in service to young people.

The Government remain committed to ensuring that the YT guarantee is met. A suitable youth training place remains the sensible and positive option for young people who have not had the opportunity of taking up a job. In the light of the foregoing, we have no plans to review the policy on 16 and 17- year-olds, although we continue to monitor the operation of the policy closely and seek administrative improvements wherever possible.

Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the entitlement to housing benefit of (a) a person aged 18 to 24 years with an income of £2,265 who had taken a room at £40 per week for accommodation and (b) a person in the same position with a debt of £580.

Miss Widdecombe : The housing benefit entitlement of a single person aged 18 to 24 years not entitled to any premiums, with an income of £2,265 and a rent liability of £40 would be £35.42. This calculation is based on the assumption that the income quoted is net earnings to which a disregard of £5 a week is appropriate. It also assumes that the amount of rent for which the person is liable is fully eligible for housing benefit and is not considered to be unreasonably expensive by the local authority. The benefit entitlement of a person in the same circumstances with a debt of £580 would be identical.

Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide details of the costs of administering the severe hardship payment scheme and the amount of severe hardship benefit paid out in the last year for which figures are available.

Mr. Jack : The information on these costs of income support paid to 16 and 17-year-olds under the severe hardship provisions is not separately identifiable.

Attendance Allowance

Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the charges being levied on attendance allowance for local authority services ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott : No restrictions are placed upon the uses to which attendance allowance may be put once it is in

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payment. Where extra costs are incurred because of a person's disability the allowance is intended to be available to help meet them.

Local authorities have discretionary powers to charge for domiciliary and day care services. If charges are made authorities must take into account what it is reasonably practicable for an individual to pay. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health proposes to issue guidance to authorities about the use of these powers. We would not expect local authorities to make charges which undermine the purpose of attendance allowance, and after April 1992 disability living allowance.

Social Fund Manual

Mr. Quentin Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the future format of the social fund manual.

Mr. Scott : The revised social fund manual has been published today. In the new manual, the Secretary of State's directions and guidance to social fund officers have been separated from the purely procedural and

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administrative matters. The opportunity has also been taken to revise the style of English used, to make it simpler and easier to understand.

Three changes of substance have been made in the course of the revision. Social fund direction 4 has been revised to clarify the fact that people can apply for community care grants for the care of prisoners on home leave. Direction 16 has been revised so that full-time students will be eligible for crisis loans throughout the year only to alleviate the consequences of a disaster. This is in line with the Government policy to fund students through the educational maintenance system rather than through social security benefits. Finally, the guidance on suggested amounts to award for community care grants has been deleted.

Copies of the revised social fund manual, comprising the social fund officer's guide, the social fund administration guide, the funeral and maternity payments guide and the cold weather payments booklet, have been placed in both Libraries today. The new manual is effective from 16 December 1991.

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