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SOCIAL SECURITY
Lone Parents
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate his Department has made of the percentage of lone parents in (a) 1984 and (b) 1995 who are (i) divorced and (ii) widowed; and if he will make a statement. [27896]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The latest available estimates are for 1994-95.
| 1984 | 1994-95 | |
|---|---|---|
| Divorced/separated | 68 | 58 |
| Widowed | 12 | 5 |
| Single never married | 20 | 37 |
Note:
The estimates are based on sample survey data.
Source:
Department of Social Security data.
Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the reasons for (a) disregarding disability living allowance for assessment purposes under the Child Support Acts and (b) taking it into account in the severe disability allowance. [28033]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: Disability living allowance is paid in recognition of the additional needs of a disabled person. It is disregarded in the assessment of child support maintenance liability since it would be inappropriate to treat it as income available for that purpose.
For this reason the allowance is disregarded in calculating entitlement to severe disablement allowance and the severe disability premium in income support. Severe disability allowance does not exist.
Reduced Earnings Allowance
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost to the Benefits Agency of carrying out a trawl of its industrial injuries benefit cases to identify the retirement allowance and reduced earnings claimants who have attained pension age since April 1989 before the introduction of the changes to the reduced earnings allowance on 24 March. [28029]
Mr. Roger Evans: The administration of industrial injuries benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
9 May 1996 : Column: 232
Letter from Peter Mathison to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 8 May 1996:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary Question asking what was the cost to the Benefits Agency (BA) of carrying out a trawl of their Industrial Injuries Benefit cases to identify the Retirement Allowance and Reduced Earnings claimants who have attainted pension age since April 1989 before the introduction of the changes to the Reduced Earnings Allowance on 24th March.
£2,287,000 was allocated to BA Districts for this identification exercise. This figure is provisional and may be subject to change.
I hope this reply is helpful.
Motability
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what access Motability has to the funds of Motability Finance Ltd; [27540]
- (2) who is responsible for the financial reserves of Motability Finance Ltd. [27232]
Mr. Burt: Financial reserves are maintained by Motability Finance Ltd. as a normal business measure to safeguard the operation of its lease and hire purchase schemes. Those reserves are legally owned by MFL. Reserves held in excess of requirements have been transferred by way of gift into the Motability 10th Anniversary trust, which provides charitable support to the Motability scheme.
Child Support Agency
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the percentage of Child Support Agency assessments cleared (a) within 13 weeks, (b) within 26 weeks and (c) in more than 26 weeks in each month since the Child Support Agency started to operate. [28055]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Social Fund
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average value of (a) social fund loans and (b) social fund grants to pensioners in the most recent year for which figures are available. [28339]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is set out below. Average value of social fund discretionary Awards to pensioners: 1995-96
Community care grants: £264.82
Budgeting loans: £236.40
Crisis loans: £66.45 Note: The definition of the pensioner client group includes applicant or partner aged:
60 or over with income support--IS--pensioner premium
80 or over with IS higher pensioner premium
60 to 70, disabled with IS higher pensioner premium.
9 May 1996 : Column: 233
Mr. Evans: The information is set out in the table.
Social fund grants and loans pensioner expenditure: 1995-96
Community care grants: £13.5 million
Budgeting loans: £6.5 million
Crisis loans: £0.4 million
Note: The definition of the Pensioner client group includes applicant or partner aged: 60 or over with income support--IS--pensioner premium 80 or over with IS higher pensioner premium 60 to 70, disabled with IS higher pensioner premium.
Mr. Evans: The average pay back period for social fund loans to pensioners is not immediately available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The repayment terms for social fund loans are designed to be affordable to the applicant. The rate of repayment depends upon the applicant's individual circumstances. Although most loans are repaid within 78 weeks, the period of repayment may be extended up to 104 weeks.
The average weekly deduction from pensioners' benefit is £6.25. This figure is calculated from statistics published in the income support statistics quarterly inquiry, May 1995 and is the latest information available.
Mr. Denham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners currently have more than one social fund loan; what is the current average value of (a) the loans outstanding and (b) the original sum borrowed. [28341]
Mr. Evans:
The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Tony Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department and all associated agencies in the financial year 1995-96. [28566]
Mr. Burt:
Expenditure information for the 1995-96 financial year has not yet been finalised but provisional figures indicate the total amount spent in that year on official hospitality by the Department of Social Security and all associated agencies was £105,541.
Mr. Frank Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if adjudicating officers are implementing the R v. Secretary of State ex parte Golding judgment. [26510]
Mr. Roger Evans
[holding answer 24 April 1996]: The Department has taken further advice regarding the implications of the judgment. Contrary to what we thought at the time of the judgment we now understand that, pending the Department's appeal against the decision, paragraph 11 of schedule 9A to the claims and payments regulations is not an appropriate vehicle for recovering overpayments of mortgage interest direct
9 May 1996 : Column: 234
directly from lenders where the overpayment occurred prior to the new adjudication decision. The Benefits Agency has instructed local offices accordingly.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many young people are claiming severe hardship payments currently (a) nationally, (b) in London, (c) in Waltham Forest, (d) in Redbridge and (e) in Leyton. [24137]
Mr. Roger Evans
[Pursuant to his reply 3 April, Official Report, column 419]: Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency is writing again to clarify his reply of 3 April 1996.
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