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Statutory Sick Pay and Maternity Pay
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of raising statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay to the level of the lower earnings limit and of the number of people gaining from this. [2782]
Mr. Heald: It is estimated that the gross cost of raising the current rate of statutory sick pay and lower rate of statutory maternity pay to the lower earnings limit would be around £135 million per annum. It is not possible to estimate the number of people who would gain from this as many people will already be covered by occupational sick or maternity pay schemes and there is no reliable current information on the extent of this cover. Note: Estimated expenditure is at current prices and is rounded to the nearest £5 million.
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Compensation Recovery Unit
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the amounts and types of benefit recouped by the compensation recovery unit which have been reimbursed to the national insurance fund for (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95 and (c) 1995-96. [2780]
Mr. Roger Evans: This is a matter for Peter Mathison, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
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Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 12 November 1996:
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Figures are provisional and subject to change.
(12) These amounts have been reimbursed to the National Insurance Fund. The amounts for all other benefits have been reimbursed to either Votes 1 or 2 of Class XIII Appropriation Accounts.
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The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking, what were the amounts and types of benefit recouped by the Compensation Recovery Unit which have been reimbursed to the National Insurance Fund for (a)1993-94, (b) 1994-95 and (c) 1995-96.
The information requested is shown in the attached table.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Benefit type 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96
£ £ £ Invalidity benefit(12) 31,506,196.35 51,912,225.48 45,957,227.95
Incapacity benefit(12) nil nil 21,806,993.44
Unemployment benefit(12) 236,168.62 355,419.58 518,384.73
Sickness benefit(12) 3,027,307.11 4,391,479.21 5,039,440.94
Income support 5,188,320.46 7,999,922.25 10,150,965.02
Attendance allowance 495,364.16 876,537.69 839,317.51
Statutory sick pay 13,874,752.39 17,268,020.26 15,281,003.03
Mobility allowance 942,886.54 1,039,547.38 821,166.41
Industrial injuries disablement benefit 7,899,333.58 12,511,359.68 16,429,575.75
Constant attendance allowance 136,815.64 244,809.00 266,496.25
Reduced earnings allowance 4,894,461.35 5,236,865.95 4,176,652.21
Retirement allowance 3,506,55 5,302.25 601.76
Family credit 914.68 625.82 Nil
Severe disablement allowance 828,476.30 1,520,197.28 1,978,326.60
Old cases act benefit Nil Nil Nil
Disability living allowance 2,486,917.53 6,601,000.90 10,823,763.54
Disability working allowance 18,940.81 53,767.19 89,306.95
Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 23,894.90 61,817.02 53,128.88
Private Pensions
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners currently receive private personal pensions; what percentage they comprise of all pensioners; and how many are estimated to receive a personal pension smaller than the level of the basic retirement pension. [3049]
Mr. Heald: Approximately 250,000 or 2.5 per cent. of people over state pension age derive an income from a personal pension. This represents 2.5 per cent. over state pension age. The income from the personal pension was less than the value of the standard rate of state retirement pension for a single person in around 160,000 cases. Source: Family Resources Survey 1994-95.
Pensioner Incomes
Ms. Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of basic retirement pensioners who have a total disposable income in excess of (a) twice, (b), three times and (c) four times the basic retirement pension. [3052]
Mr. Heald: The information is in the table.
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| Level of disposable income | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pensioner units | Over two times basic retirement pension | Over three times basic retirement pension | Over four times basic retirement pension | |
| Pensioner couples | 1,200,000 | 550,000 | 300,000 | |
| Single pensioners | 1,250,000 | 500,000 | 200,000 | |
| All pensioner units | 2,450,000 | 1,000,000 | 450,000 | |
Source:
Pensioners' Incomes Series 1993, based mainly upon data from the Family Expenditure Survey 1993.
1. Estimates of numbers have been rounded to the nearest 50,000 pensioner unit. A pensioner unit is defined as being a single person over state pension age, or a couple where the husband is over state pension age. Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.
2 Disposable income has been defined as net income before housing costs for the purposes of this analysis.
3. The level of standard rate basic retirement pension in 1993 was £54.15 for single pensioners and £86.70 for pensioner couples until April, and from then on £56.10 and £89.80 respectively. For pensioner couples, the information in the table is based upon multiples of the couple rate.
4. The estimates given above are calculated from the number of Family Expenditure Survey respondents who at the time of interview had a disposable income in excess of two, three or four times the standard rate basic retirement pension at that time. The calculations do not, therefore, involve deflating prices to July 1993 levels, consequently results are not directly comparable with published pensioners' Incomes Series results.
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Lone Parents
Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on benefit for single parent families in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1994-95 in equivalent terms. [3093]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The information is in the table.
| 1979-80 | 1990-91 | 1994-95 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | 730 | 4,680 | 8,884 |
| At 1995-96 prices | 1,874 | 5,574 | 9,128 |
Compensation Recovery Unit
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has in respect of the compensation recovery unit. [3383]
Mr. Roger Evans: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 7 November, Official Report, columns 681-82.
"Households Below Average Income"
Mr. Simon Coombs: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the next edition of "Households Below Average Income" will be published. [4277]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: "Households Below Average Income: A Statistical Analysis 1979--1993-94" will be published on Thursday 14 November at 9.30 am. Copies will be placed in the Library and made available to Members in the Vote Office.
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Benefits Agency Staff
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many Benefits Agency customer services staff there are; and what estimate he has made of the likely change in numbers in the next financial year; [3349]
- (2) how many persons worked within his Department's Benefit Agency as customer service staff in the last year for which figures are available. [3345]
Mr. Roger Evans: Information regarding the total number of Benefits Agency customer service staff is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information regarding the number of district information officers is available only for 1995-96; approximately 450 were employed.
Local Offices (Hampshire)
Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the performance targets for each social security office in Hampshire for (a) 1995-96 and (b) 1996-97; and how many of these targets were achieved in 1995-96 in each case indicating how these targets and achievements relate to those set nationally. [3355]
Mr. Burt: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.
| Target area | 1995-96 target-- National and district | 1996-97 target--National | 1996-97 target--District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income support claims (p) Income support claims (s) | 63 per cent. in 5 days 87 per cent. in 13 days | 63 per cent. in 5 days 87 per cent. in 13 days | 63 per cent. in 5 days 87 per cent in 13 days |
| Incapacity benefit claims (p) Incapacity benefit claims (s) | 65 per cent. in 10 days 85 per cent. in 30 days | 65 per cent. in 10 days 85 per cent. in 30 days | 65 per cent. in 10 days 85 per cent. in 30 days |
| Social fund crisis loans(13) | On the day the need arises | On the day the need arises | On the day the need arises |
| Income support accuracy | 87 per cent. | 87 per cent. | 76 per cent.(14) |
| Short term benefit accuracy | 94 per cent. | 94 per cent. | 94 per cent. |
(13) Target considered met if 95 per cent. of claims are cleared within one day.
(14) All districts within London South area directorate have been set an income support accuracy improvement target of 76 per cent.
(p) primary target.
(s) secondary target.
1. Hampshire comprises of the Benefits Agency districts of Hampshire North, South, East Hants and WTight and Solent and Forest.
| Target | National | Hampshire North | South East Hants and Wight | Solent and Forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income support claims (p) | 67.1 per cent. | 63.1 per cent. | 61.2 per cent. | 66.0 per cent. |
| Income support claims (s) | 88.2 per cent. | 86.2 per cent. | 86.4 per cent. | 88.7 per cent. |
| Incapacity benefit claims | 78.9 per cent. | 74.3 per cent. | 84.0 per cent. | 77.5 per cent. |
| Incapacity benefit claims (s) | 96.0 per cent. | 92.7 per cent. | 96.6 per cent. | 96.0 per cent. |
| Social fund crisis loans | 97.4 per cent. | 98.4 per cent. | 98.3 per cent. | 92.9 per cent. |
| Income support accuracy | 78.1 per cent. | 71.7 per cent. | 69.5 per cent. | 80.0 per cent. |
| Short-term benefit accuracy(15) | 90.7 per cent. | 86.9 per cent. | -- | -- |
(15) Only Hampshire North was visited by the STB accuracy checking team in 1995-96.
(p) primary target.
(s) secondary target.
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| Target/achievement | National | Hampshire North | South East Hants and Wight | Solent and Forest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Social fund recovery | 1995-96 target | 273 million | 1.16 million | 2.30 million | 2.22 million |
| 1995-96 achievement | 263.5 million | 1.11 million | 2.21 million | 2.03 million | |
| 1996-97 target | 278 million | 1.26 million | 2.26 million | 2.14 million | |
| Social fund expenditure(16) | 1995-96 target | 406 million | 1.73 million | 3.24 million | 2.98 million |
| 1995-96 achievement | 401 million | 1.70 million | 3.24 million | 2.86 million | |
| 1996-97 target | 440 million | 1.82 million | 3.59 million | 3.09 million | |
| Benefit savings (fraud) | 1995-96 target(17) | 680 million | --(18) | -- | -- |
| 1995-96 achievement | 715.6 million | --(18) | -- | -- | |
| 1996-97 target | -- | --(18) | -- | -- | |
| Overpayments | 1995-96 target | 110 million | --(19) | -- | -- |
| 1995-96 achievement | 122 million | --(19) | -- | -- | |
| 1996-97 target | 91.5 million | 343,000 | 632,000 | 627,000 |
(16) The Social Fund expenditure target is "to keep to the cash limit agreement with Treasury for the discretionary social fund budget approved by Parliament".
(17) From 1996-97 benefit savings (fraud) are included in the new security target.
(18) No. 1995-96 or 1996-97 target or performance data available at district level.
(19) No overpayment recovery target or performance data available at district level in 1995-96.
| 1995-96 | Class 1 survey--yield identified | Number of class 1 and educational surveys | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Achieved | Target | Achieved | ||
| Southhampton | 904,400 | 1,229,383 | 829 | 560 | |
| Portsmouth | 1,123,200 | 593,653 | 934 | 1,109 | |
| Fareham | 567,800 | 391,630 | 384 | 470 | |
| Aldershot | 759,600 | 825,026 | 655 | 586 | |
| National | 133 million | 151.7 million | 116,500 | 123,308 | |
| Collectable class 2 identified | Customer inquiries | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | Target | Achieved | Target (per cent.) | Achieved (per cent.) | |
| Southampton | 314 | 160 | 95.0 | 100.0 | |
| Portsmouth | 379 | 429 | 95.0 | 91.5 | |
| Fareham | 152 | 143 | 95.0 | 100.0 | |
| Aldershot | 217 | 188 | 95.0 | 100.0 | |
| National | 40,000 | 39,791 | 95.0 | 93.8 | |
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| 1996-97 | Class 1 survey--yield identified | Collectable class 2 identified | Customer inquiries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Target | Target | |
| £ | (per cent.) | ||
| Portsmouth | 1,179,648 | 544 | 95 |
| Southampton | 1,277,952 | 589 | 95 |
| National | 150 million | 40,000 | 95 |
1. In April 1995 Hampshire division consisted of four parent offices--Southampton, Portsmouth, Fareham and Aldershot.
2. In October 1995 regions replaced divisions. Hampshire division was split between South and West and South East regions. Aldershot and Basingstoke became part of South East region, while the other areas formed a part of the South and West.
3. Within Hampshire in 1996-97, targets have been set individually for Portsmouth and Southampton only.
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| 1995-96 national target | 1995-96 national achievement | 1996-97 national target |
|---|---|---|
| £300 million to be collected, or arranged for direct payment from absent parent to parent with care in 1995-96. | £301.5 | A band of £380 million to £400 million of maintenance to be collected by the agency or arranged for payment direct from absent parent to parent with care. |
| 90 per cent. of payments to be made to the parent with care within 10 working days of receipt from the absent parent. | 97 per cent. | 95 per cent. of payments madeto parents with care to be made within 10 working days of a receipt from an absent parent. |
| To achieve rapid and continuing improvement in accuracy so that in at least 75 per cent. of cases checked in March, the cash value will be correct. | 79 per cent. | To achieve a continuing improvement in accuracy so that at least 85 per cent. of cases checked during March the cash value of the assessment will be correct. |
| Where the client is dissatisfied with a CSO's decision and requests a review, 50 per cent. to be cleared within 13 weeks; 80 per cent. within 26 weeks and no more than 20 per cent. to be older than 26 weeks at 31 March 1996. | 52 per cent. within 13 weeks 71 per cent. within 26 weeks 27 per cent. over 26 weeks | Where the client is dissatisfied with a CSO's decision and requests a review, 55 per cent. to be cleared within 13 weeks; 80 per cent. within 26 weeks and no more than 15 per cent. to be older than 26 weeks at 31 March 1997. |
| 60 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks and at 31 March 1996 no more than 10 per cent. of all maintenance applications received by the agency to be over 52 weeks old. | 48 per cent. within 26 weeks 15 per cent. over 52 weeks old | 60 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks and at 31 March 1997 no more than 10 per cent. of all maintenance applications received by the agency to be over 52 weeks old. |
| To manage the agency's resources to deliver its business plan within the gross vote budget allocation. | £194 million | Not a Secretary of State target this year |
| A score of 65 per cent. on an index of client satisfaction as determined by an independent national survey. | 45 per cent. | Not a Secretary of State target this year. |
Note:
Hampshire offices are dealt with by the Plymouth Child Support Agency centre, but separate performance figures for those offices are not collected.
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Mr. Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who have suffered a reduction in related earnings allowance with the introduction of the retirement allowance in each Benefits Agency office in Hampshire.[3354]
Mr. Evans: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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