House of Commons Hansard Debates for 19 Oct 1993

Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what amounts have been recovered by way of overpayments of benefit in each of the last five years.

Mr. Burt : 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. Keith Bradley, dated 27 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 what amounts have been recovered by way of overpayments of benefit in each of the last five years.

I regret that I am unable to provide the information you requested for the last five years. Centrally collected information on Income Support overpayments is held only from April 1991, when the first central target was set for Income Support recoveries. Information for all the other non- Income Support Benefits is being kept from April 1993 and recovery performance will not be known until April 1994. In 1991/92, £24.2m was recovered from overpayments of Income Support, against a target of £18m. This figure rose to £38.2m in 1992/93, against a target of £30m. A target of £54m has been set for 1993/94 for recovery of all benefits and the current year end outlook shows that this target will be exceeded.

I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy of this letter will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Mr. Bradley : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many invalidity benefit recipients were found (a) medically incapable of work, after examination, (b) capable of work, after examination, or (c) medically capable of suitable alternative work (i) in April, May and June 1992 and (ii) in April, May and June 1993 ;

(2) how many invalidity benefit recipients were referred to the Benefits Agency medical service (a) in April, May and June 1992 and (b) April, May and June 1993.

Mr. Scott : The administration of invalidity benefit 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. Keith Bradley, dated 27 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 Questions to the Secretary of State for social security asking (i) how many invalidity benefit recipients were referred to the benefit agency Medical Service (a) in April, May and June 1992 and (b)

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April, May and June 1993 and (ii) how many invalidity benefit recipients were found (a) medically incapable of work, after examination, (b) capable of work after examination, or (c) medically capable of suitable alternative work (i) in April, May and June 1992 and (ii) in April, May and June 1993.

The complete range of information requested is not available. This is because for operational reasons, figures for Scotland and Wales are not available. The full range of information will be available from April 1994. The figures available also include sickness benefit recipients as separate figures are not held. The figures below therefore relate to England only.

(1a) Sickness benefit/invalidity benefit referrals to BAMS in April, May and June 1992 = 172,637.

(b) Sickness benefit/invalidity benefit referrals to BAMS in April, May and June 1993 = 170,788.

(2a) Sickness benefit/invalidity benefit recipients found medically incapable of work after examination :

(i) in April, May and June 1992 = 33,847

(ii) in April, May and June 1993 = 28,275

(b) Sickness benefit/invalidity benefit recipients found capable of work after medical examination :

(i) in April, May and June 1992 = 5,148

(ii) in April, May and June 1993 = 3,280

(c) Sickness benefit/invalidity benefit recipients found medically capable of suitable alternative work after medical examination : (

(i) in April, May and June 1992 = 11,442

(ii) in April, May and June 1993 = 14,586

I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

Equal Opportunities

Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the districts of the Benefits Agency which have not received the equal opportunities validation symbol ; and what are the reasons for their failure in each case.

Mr. Burt : The administration of Benefits Agency staff 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. Win Griffiths, 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 if he will list the Districts of the Benefits Agency which have not received the equal opportunities validation symbol ; and what are the reasons for their failure in each case.

The Disability symbol of 2 ticks and 2 dots was introduced by Employment Services for use by employers who wished to show

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their commitment to employing people with disabilities. All Districts within the Benefits Agency were encouraged to use the symbol and many in fact did so.

In June this year, the symbol was revised and criteria for its use were introduced. The Benefits Agency, in common with other Government Departments and Agencies, is currently looking at the implications of using the new symbol and complying with the criteria. This in no way affects the way we treat disabled people and our policies and procedures are in line with best practice and Civil Service policy on the employment of people with disabilities.

I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.

Sick Notes

Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps are taken to ensure that sick note reminder forms BF60B are sent to claimants prior to the expiry date of the existing sick note.

Mr. Scott : The administration of sickness and invalidity benefit are matters 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. Jim Wallace, dated 27 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 yo are sent to customers prior to the expiry date of the existing sick note.

Guidance to Benefit Agency staff is that form BF60B should be issued if the current medical statement expires before the order book runs out. In both Lerwick and Kirkwall Benefit Offices, which deal with customers in your constituency, form BF60B would be issued to a customer at the same time as the renewal order book where the medical statement expires during the currency of that order book. The computerisation of incapacity benefits is still developing. The latest improvement to the system, introduced on a rolling programme to District Offices from May 1993 to January 1994, will automatically issue form BF60B whenever an order book is issued that extends beyond the date of the current medical statement.

I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.

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