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Housing Benefit
17. Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of people in receipt of housing benefit in (a) council housing, (b) housing association properties and (c) the private rented sector. [32780]
Mr. Roger Evans: At the latest count in February 1995, the total number of people in receipt of housing benefit was 2,991,210 in council housing; 587,570 in housing association properties and 1,158, 990 in the private rented sector.
The information requested is set out in the table.
|Local authority |Housing association|Other private
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 1995 |2,991,210 |587,570 |1,158,990
Source:
Housing benefit management information system quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock count.
Means-tested Benefits
18. Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people he estimates will have to draw means-tested benefits as a result of the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance and incapacity benefit. [32782]
Mr. Roger Evans: We estimate that, at any one time, 75,000 claimants of income-based jobseeker's allowance would have been receiving unemployment benefit but not income support. A further 10, 000 people would be entitled to council tax benefit because of the jobseeker's allowance changes.
For incapacity benefit, we estimate that throughout its first year 240,000 people on average will receive both IB and income support; and that IS will be paid
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on average to 35,000 people excluded from IB as a result of the new medical test.Disability
19. Sir Michael Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the steps he is taking to reduce discrimination against disabled people. [32783]
Mr. Burt: The comprehensive measures in the Disability Discrimination Bill were drawn up following wide-ranging consultation. Throughout the development of the Bill's measures, my predecessor and officials have maintained continuing communication with business and employers' groups as well as with organisations of and for disabled people.
These widely welcomed measures prove the Government's commitment to end discrimination against disabled people.
Compensation Recovery Unit
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much had been recovered by the compensation recovery unit in the latest year for which figures are available. [32784]
26. Mr. Hutton: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement about the operation of the compensation recovery unit. [32790]
Mr. Roger Evans: The compensation recovery unit was set up in 1990 to shift the advantage of recovery to the taxpayer who lost out to the insurer under the old scheme. Just over £110 million was recovered by the unit in 1994 95--over £31 million from April to June 1995.
State Pension
21. Mr. Roy Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent consideration he has given to the method of assessment of the state pension. [32785]
Mr. Heald: The state pension is uprated each year in line with prices, this reflects the commitment to increase all major benefits in line with inflation and is fully in line with the Government's commitment to help those in greatest need.
Claimants' Partners (Working Hours)
22. Mr. Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether partners of unemployed benefit claimants will be able to work for up to 24 hours a week without losing entitlement to benefit. [32786]
Mr. Roger Evans: Yes. From October 1996, we are increasing the number of hours which partners of income-based jobseeker's allowance claimants will be able to work from 16 to 24 hours a week. The number of hours a claimant's partner works will have no affect on entitlement to contribution-based jobseeker's allowance.
Benefits Payments (Post Office)
23. Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has in respect of pensioners being able to choose to have their benefits paid through the Post Office. [32787]
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Mr. Lilley: Pensioners will continue to be able to choose to have their benefits paid directly into their bank or building society accounts by automated credit transfer, or to collect it at the post office.
Plans to automate the system for paying benefit at post offices are well advanced. For customers, this will mean that order books and giros are replaced with a benefit payment card. Starting next year, this change is likely to be phased in over a period of two to three years. Pensioners and other benefit recipients will be informed of what is happening, and exactly what they will need to do, nearer the time when cards are to be issued to them. People who choose to be paid by automated credit transfer will not be affected by this change and will not need a benefit payment card.
Pensioner Incomes
24. Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners had incomes in the top half of the national income distribution in 1979 and in the last year for which figures are available. [32788]
Mr. Heald: In 1979, 23 per cent. of pensioners in the United Kingdom were in the top half of the income distribution before housing costs and 25 per cent. after housing costs. By 1992 93 these figures had increased to 30 per cent. and 35 per cent. respectively.
Child Support Agency
25. Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy to reduce delays in processing inquiries by both the public and hon. Members about the Child Support Agency. [32789]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The processing of inquiries from both the public and from hon. Members is a matter of high priority. The agency has channelled additional resources into this area and has made considerable progress in eliminating delays. A number of hon. Members have commented on a noticeable improvement in both the speed and the quality of replies which they receive.
Occupational Pensions
27. Dr. Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to improve the regulation of occupational pensions. [32791]
Mr. Heald: The Pensions Bill has completed its passage through Parliament. It will greatly improve the regulation of occupational pensions without imposing undue costs on employers or schemes. It provides a clear framework of statutory obligations on employers, trustees, scheme professionals and others involved with occupational pensions and underlines the fact that it is the trustees who are responsible for running schemes. It establishes a statutory minimum funding requirement to ensure the adequacy of pension fund assets, an occupational pensions regulatory authority with robust and wide-ranging powers, and a compensation scheme to cover the loss of funds dishonestly removed.
These measures will increase confidence in occupational pension schemes and thus encourage people to build funded pension provision for their retirement.
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Family Credit
28. Mr. Jacques Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent modifications he has made to family credit. [32792]
Mr. Roger Evans: From today, there will be a £10 increase in family credit for people working 30 hours or more a week. We estimate that 345,000 families will benefit from this increase, which will ensure that those working longer hours see a visible gain from their extra effort. This very substantial premium for full-time workers reflects the importance the Government attach to supporting families in work. Claimants who receive housing benefit and council tax benefit will receive the full value of the increase.
Claimant Education and Training
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to ensure that the benefits system positively encourages claimants to improve their education and training skills. [32772]
Mr. Burt: The benefit rules allow people to improve their education and training skills. For example, people claiming unemployment benefits may study part time, as long as they remain available for and actively seek employment.
Compensation (Absent Parents)
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to pay compensation to men who, through mistaken identity or maladministration, receive maintenance inquiry forms or other communications from the Child Support Agency in respect of children of whom they are not the father; and if he will make a statement. [31521]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The Government do not accept that financial compensation should be paid in all cases to those incorrectly identified by the Child Support Agency as an alleged absent parent. However, the Child Support Agency can and does make ex-gratia payments to reimburse individuals who have incurred expenses as a result of having to correct the agency's error of identification. Requests for compensation are considered on their merits.
Funds
Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the population receives funds from his Department; and what was the percentage in (a) 1970, (b) 1980 and (c) 1990. [32950]
Mr. Burt: The information is not available in the form requested.
Family Credit
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures for take-up of the new child care disregards in family credit for (a) all families and (b) one-parent families, (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of potential claimants. [33475]
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Mr. Roger Evans: At 30 June this year, a total of 19,460 families had received higher family credit awards as a result of the help with child care charges. Of these, 18,680 were lone parents and 780 were couples. These figures do not include renewal claims from families who received the help in their previous family credit award. No information about take-up among potential claimants is available at this stage. However, it is estimated that, in the long term, 150, 000 families will benefit from the new help.
Source
Five per cent. sample of family credit awards made between 1 October 1994 and 30 June 1995. These figures do not include claims made by 30 June but decided after that date.
Regional Benefit Rates
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce regional rates of unemployment and other benefits; and if he will make a
statement. [34280]
Mr. Roger Evans: We have no such plans.
Disability Discrimination Bill
Mr. Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) which Secretary of State will appoint members of the National Disability Council under schedule 4 to the Disability Discrimination Bill; [34050]
(2) which Secretary of State the National Disability Council will advise under clause 34 of the Disability Discrimination Bill; [34047] (3) which Secretary of State will make arrangements for advice and assistance under clause 23 of the Disability Discrimination Bill. [34053]
Mr. Burt: The Secretary of State for Social Security.
Mr. Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) which Secretary of State will review clause 8 of the Disability Discrimination Bill; [34052]
(2) which Secretary of State shall issue codes of practice under clause 37 of the Disability Discrimination Bill. [34049]
Mr. Burt: The Secretary of State for Education and Employment.
Mr. Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which Secretary of State will request codes of practice from the National Disability Council under clause 35 of the Disability Discrimination Bill. [34048]
Mr. Burt: The Secretary of State for Social Security, after consultation with other Secretaries of State with an interest in the area to which the request relates.
Mr. Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which Secretary of State will issue guidance under clause 3 of the Disability Discrimination Bill. [34051]
Mr. Burt: The Secretary of State for Social Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.
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Back-to-work Bonus
Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to include a back-to-work bonus in his reforms of the unemployment benefits. [32781]
Mr. Lilley: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Under- Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth (Mr. Evans), on 13 June Official Report , column 494.
Pensioner Households
Sir Andrew Bowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the percentage and number of one adult pensioner households who are mainly dependent on state pensions and benefits. [34824]
Mr. Heald: It is estimated that there are 2.5 million one adult pensioner households who are mainly dependent on state benefits. This represents 74 per cent. of the total population of one adult pensioner households.
Source :
"Family Expenditure Survey", 1990 91 and 1992. Census figures for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1991
Figures represent those whose income comprises 50 per cent. or more of state benefits.
Retirement Pension
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was his most recent estimate of the average sum paid to (a) female pensioners and (b) male pensioners over their period of entitlement; and if he will make a statement. [33086]
Mr. Heald: I will write to the hon. Member shortly.
Income Support
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what provision has been made for a trawl of overlooked cases regarding entitlement to severe disability premium; and if he will make a statement; [33820]
(2) how many cases where severe disability premium should have been paid from an earlier date have been identified; what is the total figure in backdated income support payments made to these individuals and what is the average payment; what steps have been taken to ensure compensation payments are made to these individuals; and how much has been paid and what is the average amount. [33821]
Mr. Roger Evans: The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ian Magee to Mr. Peter L. Pike, dated 14 July 1995: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the provisions which have been made for a trawl of overlooked cases regarding entitlement to severe disability premium (SDP), the number of cases where arrears of SDP have been paid and details of compensation in these cases.
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A scan of the Income Support Computer System was undertaken over the weekend of 19/20 November 1994 and cases with potential entitlement to SDP were identified. Benefits Agency offices are currently examining the selected cases to identify those where an award of the SDP may have been overlooked and to pay arrears if appropriate.At the end of the exercise we will be able to provide an estimate of the number of cases involved and the amount of arrears paid. This will be based on a statistical sample taken from 26 offices within 25 Districts.
Appropriate compensation will be considered on a case by case basis.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been refused income support after failing the habitual residence test since its introduction in the Euston district office of Glasgow in each month since the test's introduction in August 1994;
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how many appeals have been lodged against the decision in each month since August 1994; and how many appeals have been won in each month. [33295]Mr. Evans: The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Ian Magee, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ian Magee to Mr. Jeremy Corbyn, dated 14 July 1995: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the operation of the habitual residence test (HRT) for Income Support customers of the Benefits Agency (BA) District Office in Euston.
I have attached, at Annex A, a table giving details of the number of people from Euston District Office who have failed the HRT for each month from August 1994--June 1995.
The BA does not routinely collect information about the number of HRT appeals nor the decisions of the Social Security Appeal Tribunal on these appeals. The information you requested, therefore, could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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Annex A: Habitual residence test
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EEA--European Economic Area. UK--United Kingdom.
Data are provisional and are subject to amendment.
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