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Waste Management
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the environment (1) pursuant to his answers to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell), Official Report , columns 101-2, if he will make a statement on the new waste management licensing system ;
(2) if he will make it his policy to proceed with the introduction of economic instruments relating to waste management before finalising the regulations implementing the EC framework directive on waste.
Mr. Yeo : On the waste management licensing system, I refer to the answer I gave on 6 July, Official Report, column 80.
It is the Government's policy to use economic instruments in preference to regulation to achieve environmental goals. We have already introduced credits for recycling and we are actively considering whether to develop economic instruments to promote the reduction and recycling of waste and, if so, which instruments are likely to be most effective. There is no reason why these considerations should delay the introduction of the waste management licensing system.
Sellafield
Sir Giles Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) of 28 June 1993, Official Report, column 392, whether he has received the information he requested from British Nuclear Fuels plc ; when the second period of public consultation into the proposed new discharge authorisation for BNFL's Sellafield site will begin ; when it will end ; what other information, additional to the material provided by BNFL, he will be making available during the public
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consultation ; who will assess the responses arising from the consultation process ; and when he expects to be in a position to take a final decision on this issue.Mr. Yeo : BNFL has provided the further information mentioned in my right hon. Friend's answer of 28 June to the hon. Member for Norwich, North, Official Report , column 392 . The other material referred to in that answer will also be made available for public consultation which is exptected to start shortly and to last for two months. A final decision will be taken following this consultation.
Housing Association
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what further plans he has for financing housing associations following the second report from the Environment Committee of Session 1992-93, HC 466, on the Housing Corporation.
Sir George Young : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson) on 15 July, Official Report, column 591 .
Local Government Review
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many meetings have been held by Ministers with hon. Members to discuss the review of local government in England ; and if he will list these meetings giving dates and the numbers of hon. Members present on each occasion.
Mr. Gummer : I and my ministerial colleagues frequently discuss with hon. Members a wide range of issues, including the local government review, and we welcome the opportunity to do so, whether formally in the Department or informally elsewhere. We keep no list of such discussions.
Standard Spending Assessments
Mr. Nigel Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in the f authorities about the area cost adjustment. These representations will be considered carefully as part of our review of standard spending assessments.
New Towns (Property Sales)
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average amount paid to the Commission for New Towns for the sale of freehold properties to (a) private developers and (b) leaseholders in each year since 1979.
Sir George Young : This information is not readily available but will be placed in the Library of the House shortly.
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes have been sold by the Commission for New Towns, and for what total sum, in each year since 1979.
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Sir George Young : This information will be placed in the Library of the House.
Carbon Dioxide
Dr. Spink : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for completing the United Kingdom's carbon dioxide programme.
Mr. Gummer : In the first half of this year we initiated a wide- ranging debate on the United Kingdom's CO programme. Issues discussed included the type of measures that the Government should take as part of the programme and the role of other organisations and groups outside government.
Our view has been that an effective and efficient national CO programme requires a partnership approach. In the light of the positive response to the consultation exercise, we have concluded that the United Kingdom can create such a partnership.
The Government's role is to provide the right fiscal, regulatory and financial framework for the programme and to help disseminate advice and information on the many actions that can be taken to achieve savings. But it is decision makers in households and businesses throughout the country who will take the actions that will lead to lower emissions. The Government are looking to business groups, trade associations and voluntary and consumer groups to act as channels of information and encouragement to these decision makers. The energy industries have an important part to play in promoting the efficient use of energy and in ensuring that energy is produced in economically and environmentally sound ways.
Several measures have already been announced. These include those announced in the March Budget to increase the price of energy in the domestic and transport sectors, the establishment of the energy saving trust to provide financial incentives to energy efficiency, and an increase in the objective for renewable energy. These measures together are expected to stimulate savings amounting to two thirds of the target.
On Wednesday last week, my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy announced his proposals for further renewable energy orders under the non-fossil fuel obligation, in pursuit of the new objective for renewable energy.
Today I am able to announce a step forward in the trial of local energy advice centres being conducted by the energy saving trust with finance from the Energy Efficiency Office. The first franchises to run these centres are now being offered to successful applicants, and the centres will be operational by October.
We have considered what additional measures should be taken to complete the programme. We have concluded that we should take further action to help business to make energy savings. We will strengthen the Energy Efficiency Office's programmes of advice and information aimed at business and will be discussing with business groups how to obtain the maximum response. We expect that significant additional savings can be achieved in this sector.
We recognise that public sector bodies should provide a lead. We will be setting further targets for the Government estate which should take energy use by central Government down to well below 80 per cent. of
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1990 levels by the year 2000. The Government are looking to other public sector bodies to adopt similarly stringent targets. We will also continue to provide information and encouragement to households to use energy efficiently. We will increase the resources devoted to this, working with the energy saving trust, to reinforce the impact of the trust.Concern was expressed during consultations about the prospect of rising transport emissions. We believe that, taking account of the views expressed during consultation, it would be reasonable to work towards further savings from transport by the year 2000 over and above the 1.5MtC expected to be saved as a result of the fuel duty increases announced in the March Budget. We will be discussing with interested parties how such savings can best be realised. The Government also take the view that energy should be produced and delivered in a way that keeps CO emissions at the lowest cost-effective level consistent with other environmental goals. This is primarily the responsibility of the energy industries. We will be working towards the achievement of 5,000 MW of combined heat and power capacity by the year 2000, an increase of 1,000MW on the previous target.
The framework for the United Kingdom's CO programme is now in place. Many organisations have indicated their willingness to participate in the programme. We will be discussing with those organisations the contribution they can make in the light of the further Government action announced today, in order for the full programme to be published at the end of the year.
Urban Priority Areas
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his review of urban priority areas will be completed.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 22 July 1993] : Consultation is continuing on the outcome of our contractors' work to assess urban conditions in the light of the 1991 census. The contractors are carrying out further analytical work. This consultation and further work should be completed by the autumn.
Local Government Associations
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to meet the chairmen of the Association of District Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Association of County Councils.
Mr. Baldry [holding answer 22 July 1993] : My right hon. Friend plans to meet the chairmen again in September, at the next of their regular two-monthly meetings.
Small Businesses
Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the achievements of (a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months ; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring.
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Mr. Gummer : The Government continue to help small businesses, through improvements to the business climate, through deregulation and through specific programmes of support and assistance. My Department's Energy Efficiency Office launched the energy management assistance scheme in April 1992 to help smaller businesses reduce their energy costs. The scheme provides grants towards consultants' costs in identifying energy savings and helping in their achievement. Over the last 12 months, more than 1,500 grants, averaging about £400 each, have been paid to small manufacturing and commercial enterprises.
In partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, my Department is funding a programme to raise awareness of environmental issues among small firms to help them improve their environmental performance. This follows a recommendation made by the Advisory Committee on Business and the Environment. We are jointly supporting 10 local initiatives, which bring together the private sector, the community and local authorities. My Department is supporting projects in Sheffield and Blackburn ; a further three will be announced in due course. The programme will also focus on specific industrial sectors, working with trade associations to develop a programme of help and guidance for small businesses.
We continue to review the impact of the integrated pollution control and local authority air pollution control systems on small businesses. This has resulted in the laying of new regulations, the publication of a consultation paper reviewing the scope of the controls, and the issue of guidance to local authorities on exempting certain small industrial processes. Further proposed deregulatory initiatives in relation to the operation of both systems will be of benefit to small businesses.
In November 1992, my Department published planning policy guidance note No. 4, "Industrial and Commercial Development and Small Firms". This includes a section on how local planning authorities can help small firms through the planning system.
The Planning Inspectorate executive agency continues successfully to work to performance targets for prompt handling of planning appeals, including those for small businesses.
For small firms in the construction industry, we ask for information on a sampling basis to minimise the burden of form filling. We give feedback to small firms on the use of raw data provided to us to indicate the cyclical nature of the construction industry. On research, we encourage better dissemination of results on the construction industry to make it user friendly for smaller firms.
We continue to tackle bureaucracy in the main inner-city programmes. City challenge has been simplified and grant regimes reduced from seven to three. The application form for derelict land grant has been simplified and we have taken through the legislation to set up the urban regeneration agency which will integrate three separate programmes in to a single grant regime.
My Department monitors all its programmes and publishes details of a wide range of outputs and targets in its annual report.
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Computer Consultancies
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the computer consultancies employed by Ordnance Survey, since November 1991, the tasks for which they were engaged, and the total cost to his Department.
Mr. Baldry : The chief executive will write to the hon. Member. Letter from D. Rhind to Mr. John McAllion, dated 26 January 1993 :
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about Ordnance Survey expenditure on computer consultancy contracts since November 1991.
The total expenditure on such contracts was £463,000. I attach a list of the contracts awarded showing the name of the contractor and the subject of the consultancy assignment.
A copy of this letter and enclosure will be deposited in the House of Commons Library and the Public Information Office.
List of Consultancies-Computer based-November 1991 to date
Firm |Purpose
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Data Dictionary |Systems Architecture Plus Support
Systems
Roger Hipperson |Agents Plotting System
Oracle |Validation of AAP Database scheme
Mera Business Systems |Enhancements to Mera
London Business |Commercial Exploitation of OS Data
Roger Hipperson |Gui Developments
Mera Business Systems |Tuning of Mera
Mera Business Systems |Night Cover for Year End Procedures
Thew Consulting |PMC System Configuration
Thew Consulting |Training for PMC Package
Mera Business |Improving Service Levels
Roger Hipperson |Superplan Plotting System
Know Edge Ltd. |GIS Support
Documedia |Transfer of Smart Data Base Records to
| Calm System
Grosvenor Consultancy |Market Testing of Computer Operations
Services
Roger Hipperson |Graphic Application Development
Logica Defence |Spatial Database Development
Dr. DeRoure |WAN Consultancy
Smallworld Systems |GIS Consultancy
Ltd.
Mera Business |Modification of Software
Systems |Purpose
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compass |P.C. Based output system for Customer
| Supply
Oracle |Database design review
Oracle |Support for Purchase and Payables
| System
Mera |Enhancements to Mera System
CSC Europe |Configuration Management Investigation
ESRI |Software development Project 1993
C and G College of |Use of SDM Methodology for in-house
Higher Education | Oracle Programme
Mera |Enhancement to Mera System
GID |Validation of NTF Version 2.0
MVA Systematica |OSCAR Database Project
Oracle |Addresspoint Database Configuration
CSL |Market Testing-Preparation of Bid for
| Computer Operations
Mera |Enhancement to Mera System
Dr. DeRoure |Use of UNIX Daemons
Oracle |Addresspoint Database Health Check
Digital |DEC System Ultrix Performance
| Assessment
Mera |Enhancements to Mera System
Admiral |Feasibility study for ICS function for
| registration under BS5750
Alprange |Development of Electronic Mail System
Mera |Development of Mera
AIM |Consultancy for trial to meter use of OS
| Data
SOCIAL SECURITY
Housing Benefit
Mr. Dowd : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to review the regulations governing entitlement to housing benefit in the cases of those claimants whose savings exceed the prescribed limit only by virtue of delayed back-payment of other allowances by the Benefits Agency ; and what action he has taken in the case of the couple in Forest Hill, London SE23, raised with him by the London borough of Lewisham.
Mr. Burt : All of the income-related benefits treat back payments of these allowances in the same way. We have no plans at present to change these arrangements. In the case of the couple in Forest Hill, an interim reply was sent to the London borough of Lewisham on 23 July 1993. I will write to the hon. Member with further details shortly.
Mr. Raynsford : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what evidence he has received about the administration of housing benefit ; and what plans he has to improve the speed and standard of service.
Mr. Burt : The day-to-day administration of housing benefit is the responsibility of local authorities. The Department routinely collects statistical information from authorities about housing benefit and council tax benefit including information about the way that the benefits are administered. Evidence shows that in 1991-92, around 75per cent. of all housing benefit claims were processed within 14 days of receipt of all the necessary information. The Department has also received a number of reports, including "Remote Control and Benefits Administration--a Management Handbook" from the Audit Commission and "Managing Housing Benefit" from the Accounts Commission. Both commissions have emphasised that authorities can do much by improved organisation and by setting and monitoring standards to improve the way they deliver housing benefit.
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Households Below Average Income
Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average disposable income at (a) actual and (b) April 1993 prices per adult, distinguishing those under and those over the pensionable ages, and per child applying the appropriate equivalence scale according to age, for the two lowest decile groups in the latest households below average income analysis for 1979, 1988-89 and 1990-91, before and after housing costs.
Mr. Burt : The information is in the tables.
The results do not show what has happened to the income of the groups over time. They reflect changes in composition of the bottom and second deciles (see note 2).
Median net equivalised household income in the
two lowest
whole population deciles for pensioners adults,
non-pensioner adults
and children, 1979, 1988-89 and 1990-91 in actual
prices<1>
and in April 1993 prices
Pensioner adult (equivalised £ per week)
Decile |1979 |1988-89|1990-91
--------------------------------------------------
Actual prices
Bottom BHC |35 |72 |82
AHC |32 |57 |63
Second BHC |42 |89 |104
AHC |38 |74 |82
April 1993 prices
Bottom BHC |89 |92 |90
AHC |76 |73 |71
Second BHC |106 |114 |115
AHC |91 |94 |92
<1> Actual prices for 1979, 1988-89 and 1990-91
refer to the middle of the period covered; that
is June 1979, January 1989 and January 1991
respectively.
Non-pensioner adult (equivalised £ per week)
Decile |1979 |1988-89|1990-91
--------------------------------------------------
Actual prices
Bottom BHC |32 |66 |72
AHC |29 |51 |51
Second BHC |43 |89 |103
AHC |39 |73 |81
April 1993 prices
Bottom BHC |82 |83 |79
AHC |68 |65 |58
Second BHC |108 |113 |113
AHC |93 |93 |91
Dependent child (equivalised £ per week)
Decile |1979 |1988-89|1990-91
--------------------------------------------------
Actual prices
Bottom BHC |33 |69 |77
AHC |30 |54 |59
Second BHC |43 |89 |102
AHC |39 |73 |81
April 1993 prices
Bottom BHC |84 |88 |84
AHC |70 |69 |66
Second BHC |109 |113 |112
AHC |92 |93 |91
Notes:
1. The estimates have been calculated by taking
the median income
of pensioners, non-pensioners and children in
each of the two bottom deciles of the total
Households Below Average Income distribution.
2. The HBAI publication does not present results
in the form requested here. The results in the
form requested cannot be interpreted as
indicating the incomes of these groups have gone
up or down over the period. Any income changes
will reflect shifts of the number of people in
each
group-pensioners/non-pensioners/children-from one
decile group to another. For example, if
pensioners incomes remained unchanged but there
was a shift of pensioners from the top of the
bottom decile into the second decile, the median
income of the pensioners in the bottom decile in
these tables would show a fall. Conversely, if
pensioners incomes again remain the same, but
there was a shift of pensioners from the second
decile into the bottom decile, the median income
of the pensioners in the bottom decile in these
tables would show a rise. But in both these
examples the real incomes amongst pensioners did
not change. For information on changes in income
of low-income pensioners and non-pensioners see
Table A5 of HBAI 1979-1990-91.
3. All estimates are subject to sampling error
which may affect the validity of comparisons
between groups at a point in time and over time.
More information about sampling errors can be
found in appendix 5 of "Households Below Average
Income", a copy of which is in the Library.
Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the equivalent monetary value in pound per week at April 1993 prices, following table A2 of the latest HBAI report, in 1979, 1988-89 and 1990-91, before and after housing costs, of the decile medians of the two poorest decile groups, the poorest quintile and the total population mean of (a) a single adult, (b) a couple with no children, (c) a couple with one child aged three, (d) a couple with one child aged 16, (e) a couple with two children aged three and eight, (f) a couple with three children aged three, eight and 11, (g) a couple with three children aged 11, 16 and 17 years, (h) a single adult with children, (i) all households with children equivalised and (j) all households equivalised.
Mr. Burt : The information has been placed in the Library. The estimates follow table A2 of Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 1979-- 1990-91. It is not possible to give equivalent monetary values for the requested groups (h) , (i) and (j) as the calculation of these figures is dependent on the number and age of children in each household. The money values for the bottom quintiles for family groups is provided in table A5 of HBAI.
The information that can be provided is subject to the same qualifications as HBAI 1979--1990-91, in particular paragraph 1.4 which points out that the results do not track what happens to a particular set of individuals and are as likely to be influenced by changes in the mix of groups as changes in income levels within each group.
Disability Benefits
Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all the changes made since 1979 in benefits for disabled people ; for each case where there are savings, how much has been saved to date ; and how much is projected to be saved up to (a) 2000 and (b) 2025.
Mr. Scott : A list of 65 changes made since 1979 to incapacity benefits and benefits for disabled people has been placed in the Library. Of the 65 changes, 14 relate to savings measures and are identified with an asterisk, 46incurred costs and one change involved a transfer of expenditure. An estimate of the savings in each case to date
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and projected as requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It is not possible to provide projections as far ahead as 2025 since they would depend on a large number of factors which cannot be accurately forecast.Caring
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for changes to the benefits system in recognition of the costs incurred in caring.
Mr. Scott : Invalid care allowance, the main benefit for carers, has been uprated consistently in line with the retail prices index. The weekly earnings limit has been increased in each of the past four years and is currently £50, net of allowable expenses. In addition carers who receive either income support, housing benefit or council tax benefit are entitled to the carer premium. The earnings disregard for carers in receipt of any of those benefits was increased to £15 from April this year.
Some 195,000 carers benefit at a current cost in 1992-93 of £366 million. We have no plans to make further changes to the benefits.
Correspondence
Mr. Temple-Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will acknowledge the letter of Ms J. J. Lowmass of 28 April to the head of section, disability allowance, Blackpool--his reference JE 553986C Sherwood--together with subsequent correspondence, including a letter to himself from Ms J. J. Lowmass and Mr.E. M. Sherwood dated 23 June ; and when he expects his Department to be able to deal with the matter.
Mr. Scott : The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Peter Temple-Morris, dated 23 July 1993 :
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking if he will acknowledge the letter of MsJ. J. Lowmass of 28th April to the Head of Section, Disability Allowance, Blackpool (his reference JE 553986C Sherwood) together with subsequent correspondence, including a letter to himself from Ms J. J. Lowmass and Mr.E. M. Sherwood dated 23rd June ; and when he expects his Department to be able to deal with the matter.
Ms Lowmass wrote to the Attendance Allowance Unit (AAU) on the 17 November 1992 asking for confirmation that her letter of 1 September 1992, which detailed a change in Stephen's circumstances, had been received.
The AAU which was dealing with Stephen's claim at the time (Attendance Allowance (AA) for customers under the age of 65 became DLA from 6 April 1992, but no conversion had taken place at that time on Stephen's case) wrote to Mrs. Lowmass stating that they had no record of receiving this letter. A copy of this letter was then provided by Ms Lowmass in November 1992.
You will be aware of the delays that have resulted due to the backlog of work on DLA. Unfortunately, because of these delays it was March 1993 before the file was referred to an Adjudication Officer who decided that Stephen was not entitled to the care component of DLA, and advised Stephen's parents accordingly.
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Further correspondence was received from Ms Lowmass and Mr Sherwood on the 28 April and 28 June respectively. The letter of 28 April is now being treated as a request for a review.The present situation is that a review claim pack was issued to Ms Lowmass by first class Post on 15 July 1993. Ms Lowmass was given the opportunity to complete the pack by phone but declined. When the pack is returned it will be dealt with as a matter of priority. This case has clearly not been handled with the efficiency I would expect. Please convey my sincere apologies to Ms Lowmass and Mr. Sherwood for the delays they have suffered and for any distress or inconvenience caused.
I am pleased to say that the overall situation at the DLA Unit is much improved and 80 per cent. of new cases are now being cleared inside 30 days.
I thank you for bringing this matter to my attention and for giving me the opportunity to explain the situation. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
Hospital Patients (Pensions)
Mr. Bayley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many state pensioners in York have had their pensions suspended in the last 12 months because of a long stay as a hospital in-patient.
Mr. Hague : The administration of benefits is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 26 July 1993 :
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many State pensioners in York have had their pensions suspended in the last twelve months because of a long stay as a hospital in-patient. I regret that the information is not available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, I can inform you that on 30 September 1992, the latest date for which information is held, a total of 47,170 pensioners (0.51 per cent. of the national pensioner population) had their Retirement Pension reduced because they were receiving treatment as hospital in-patients.
I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
Disability Working Allowance
Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give details of the assumptions made in his Department's estimates of the cost of disability working allowance in the years 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96 and 2000-01 ; and on what grounds his Department no longer expects to make savings as a result of the introduction of this benefit.
Mr. Scott : The estimates of the gross cost of disability working allowance in each year are based on a projection of the increase in the case load. There will be savings in other benefits to off-set the gross cost but until further analysis has been done it is not possible to quantify these. The further analysis cannot be completed until we have the results of research which the Policy Studies Institute has been commissioned to conduct.
Column 718
Income Support
Ms Short : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year-olds for each month since January 1992 have made applications for income support on grounds of extreme hardship by region and for Great Britain as a whole, shown separately for male and female ; how many have been granted or refused ; what information he has about the grounds on which applications were turned down ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Burt : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 21 May 1992 at columns 238-9 and on 30 October 1992 at columns 923-4. Such information as is available about claims after September 1992 is in the tables. Some people will have made more than one claim.
Scotland
|Total |Successful|Refused
-------------------------------------------------------
1992
October |2,083 |1,631 |452
November |2,004 |1,547 |457
December |1,618 |1,234 |384
1993
January |2,459 |2,037 |422
February |2,343 |1,870 |473
March |2,687 |2,172 |515
April |2,957 |2,491 |466
May |2,531 |2,140 |391
June |2,490 |2,095 |395
North Eastern
---------------------------------
1992
October |1,468|1,133|335
November |1,306|993 |313
December |1,137|907 |230
1993
January |1,944|1,638|306
February |1,731|1,408|323
March |2,064|1,709|355
April |1,894|1,622|272
May |1,838|1,576|262
June |1,876|1,626|250
North Western
|Total |Successful|Refused
-------------------------------------------------------
1992
October |1,272 |1,018 |254
November |1,214 |943 |271
December |1,102 |874 |228
1993
January |1,800 |1,536 |264
February |1,740 |1,403 |337
March |1,948 |1,632 |316
April |1,859 |1,593 |266
May |1,893 |1,605 |288
June |1,902 |1,633 |269
Midlands
|Total |Successful|Refused
-------------------------------------------------------
1992
October |1,180 |961 |219
November |1,167 |905 |262
December |926 |727 |199
1993
January |1,800 |1,503 |297
February |1,512 |1,207 |305
March |1,701 |1,416 |285
April |1,605 |1,393 |212
May |1,553 |1,310 |243
June |1,627 |1,404 |223
Wales and South Western
|Total |Successful|Refused
-------------------------------------------------------
1992
October |1,104 |930 |174
November |1,006 |805 |201
December |852 |688 |164
1993
January |1,657 |1,443 |214
February |1,384 |1,145 |239
March |1,642 |1,372 |270
April |1,498 |1,282 |216
May |1,406 |1,216 |190
June |1,409 |1,211 |198
London North
|Total |Successful|Refused
-------------------------------------------------------
1992
October |1,091 |895 |196
November |998 |813 |185
December |745 |621 |124
1993
January |1,498 |1,326 |172
February |1,247 |1,049 |198
March |1,469 |1,282 |187
April |1,332 |1,169 |163
May |1,294 |1,114 |180
June |1,293 |1,130 |163
London South
|Total |Successful|Refused
-------------------------------------------------------
1992
October |1,056 |848 |208
November |972 |776 |196
December |800 |662 |138
1993
January |1,483 |1,310 |173
February |1,348 |1,120 |228
March |1,474 |1,257 |217
April |1,376 |1,209 |167
May |1,330 |1,140 |190
June |1,336 |1,139 |197
Great Britain
|Total |Successful|Refused
-------------------------------------------------------
1992
October |9,256 |7,418 |1,838
November |8,668 |6,783 |1,885
December |7,183 |5,716 |1,467
1993
January |12,647 |10,797 |1,850
February |11,305 |9,202 |2,103
March |12,985 |10,840 |2,145
April |12,521 |10,759 |1,762
May |11,845 |10,101 |1,744
June |11,933 |10,238 |1,695
Source: Severe Hardship Claims Unit Database.
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of income support who have deductions for voluntary unemployment are also subject to other deductions ; and what is the average amount per person of these deductions.
Mr. Burt : There are 1,000 recipients of income support whose benefit is reduced because of voluntary unemployment who also have other deductions. The average amount of these other deductions is £5.15 (£19.86 including the voluntary unemployment deduction). Source : Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiry, May 1992. Notes : Average amounts are correct to the nearest penny.
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many overpayments of income support have been caused by a failure to report a reduction in interest rates.
Mr. Burt : I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Denzil Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount spent by local authorities in Wales on housing benefit in the last three available financial years.
Mr. Burt [pursuant to his reply, 19 July 1993, c. 73] : I am advised that the reply contained incorrect information. The correct information is :
|£ million
------------------------------
1990-91 |242
1991-92 |306
1992-93 |340
(excludes expenditure on
community charge benefit).
Source: 1993 Departmental
Report date.
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants who receive the lower rate of income support for persons aged under 25 years and are living away from home also have deductions ; and what is the average amount per person of these deductions.
Mr. Burt : The information requested is not available.
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of income support had reductions in their benefit (a) including and (b) excluding deductions for voluntary unemployment, but excluding payments of current mortgage interest in each year since 1989.
Mr. Burt : The information available is in the table.
Column 721
|1989 |1990 |1991 |1992
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Including voluntary unemployment reduction |629,000 |613,000 |715,000 |1,000,000
(b) Excluding voluntary unemployment reduction |600,000 |581,000 |678,000 |975,000
Source: Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries, May 1989-1992.
Note:
1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. The figures exclude cases with deductions solely for payment of current mortgage interest and
arrears.
3. Recipients with deductions for mortgage interest payments are included in the figures if they
also have other deductions.
4. Recipients with the voluntary unemployment reduction may be included in (b) if they have
other deductions.
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants who receive the lower rate of income support for person aged under 25 years also have deductions ; and what is the average amount per person of these deductions.
Mr. Burt : There are 85,000 recipients receiving the lower rate of income support for a person aged less than 25 years who have deductions from benefit. The average amount of the deductions is £4.85. The corresponding figures where benefit is also reduced because of voluntary unemployment are 98,000 and £6.13.
Source : Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiry, May 1992. Notes :
1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand, average amounts are correct to the nearest penny.
2. Recipients with the lower rate of income support for those aged under 25 have been identified on the basis that they are under 25, single and without dependants, and do not therefore qualify for the higher rate of benefit.
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