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Incapacity Benefit
Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the total number of applicants for (a) long-term and (b) short-term incapacity benefit in the past year; [4460]
- (2) how many people were refused (a) long-term and (b) short-term incapacity benefit in the past year; [4462]
(3) what was the total number of people in receipt of (a) long-term and (b) short-term incapacity in the past year. [4461]
Mr. Burt: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables.
| Rate of incapacity benefit | Claims (October 1995 to September 1996) | Disallowances (October 1995 to September 1996) |
|---|---|---|
| Short term (up to 28 weeks) | 1,054,000 | (67)391,000 |
| Short term (from 28 weeks) and Long Term | n/a | (68)112,300 |
n/a = not available
| Rate of incapacity | (69)Recipients (as at 341 May 1996) |
|---|---|
| Short term (up to 28 weeks) | 117,000 |
| Short term (from 28 weeks) | 105,000 |
| Long term (from 52 weeks) | 1,572,000 |
(67) Number of claimants who have not paid sufficient national insurance contributions and those judged to be capable of their previous occupation; 100 per cent. sample of incapacity benefit computer system.
(68) Claimants failing the all work test; 5 per cent. sample of incapacity benefit computer system.
(69) The latest date for information is available.
(70) All figures exclude a small number of cases not held on the system.
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of (a) the numbers gaining and (b) the cost, if claimants of incapacity benefit with part-time earnings retained benefit at a rate reduced pound for pound where earnings exceed the limit. [4266]
Incapacity benefit is intended to support people incapable of work. A small amount of paid work is permitted but only if such work is directly beneficial to the particular medical condition of the claimant and will help aid their recovery. It would be inappropriate to continue to pay incapacity benefit to those who become able to support themselves in paid employment. Disability working allowance is available to help top up earnings of people moving from incapacity benefit into paid work.
Benefits Agency
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the staffing complement of the Benefits Agency office in Clydebank; how many casual staff are currently employed; and in what capacity. [4513]
- (2) what measures are in place to ensure that casual and partly trained staff are not employed in direct contact with clients to administer benefits in the Benefits Agency office in Clydebank; [4512]
(3) what estimate he has made of the impact of the annual staffing costs in the Clydebank Benefits Agency office arising from the employment of casual rather than permanent staff. [4514]
Mr. Roger Evans: This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Tony Worthington, dated 21 November 1996:
25 Nov 1996 : Column: 107
The secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary questions asking what is the staffing complement of the Benefits Agency (BA) office in Clydebank; how many casual staff are currently employed; and in what capacity; what measures are in place to ensure that casual and partly trained staff are not employed in direct contact with clients to administer benefits in the BA office in Clydebank; what estimate he has made of the impact on the annual staffing costs in the Clydebank BA office from the employment of casual rather than permanent staff.
As at 31 October 1996 there were 157 staff in post at the Benefits Agency office in Clydebank. This figure included 10 staff employed on a casual basis on general administrative assistant duties. There are no vacancies at present.
All staff in the Benefits Agency office in Clydebank who are in direct contact with customers receive appropriate training for these duties. Staff in contact with the public receive between 1-15 weeks training depending on the nature of their duties and their previous experience. This training also includes time observing an experienced receptionist.
Casual staff employed by the Benefits Agency at Clydebank office are paid on the same payscales as their equivalent permanent counterparts. They do not, in common with all casual civil servants, belong to the non contributory Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. There are no savings from this to the local office staffing budget.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Environmental Auditing
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the ways in which his Department has (a) demonstrated by example and (b) promoted externally, the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing; and if he will make a statement. [4531]
Mr. Burt: The policy for the use of the Department's resources ensures that full account is taken of the needs of the environment. For example:
The DSS is a signatory to the corporate commitment to energy efficiency. Energy consumption for the estate is monitored and progress towards the Government targets are reported annually to the Department of Environment.
All our new buildings and major refurbishments are audited for their environmental performance to obtain Building Research Establishment environmental assessment method (BREEAM) accreditation.
The Department is a founder member of London's first clean air charter for fleet best practice. This commits the Department to improving the environmental performance of our official vehicles over the next three years. The Department's environmental initiatives and performance are promoted externally through our membership of organisations such as the Environment Council and through the Social Security report, published annually.
Child Support Agency
Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what targets he proposes to set for operating cost reductions at the Child Support Agency; and what time scale applies. [4736]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 21 November 1996:
25 Nov 1996 : Column: 108
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency operating costs.
The Agency is committed to living within the resource budget set annually by the Secretary of State. The budget allocated to the Agency for 1996-97 is £207 million. The planned expenditure for the Agency as outlined in the DSS Departmental Report 1996-97 to 1998-99 is:
1997-98: £213 million
1998-99: £192 million
I hope this is helpful.
Public Caller Offices
Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the cost in the last four years of refurbishing the public caller offices in Wales. [5252]
Mr. Roger Evans: This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Dr. John Marek, dated 21 November 1996:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what has been the cost in the last four years of refurbishing the public caller offices in Wales.
£12,174,487 has been spent refurbishing public caller offices in Wales during the last four financial years. This figure is provisional and subject to change.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
Invalidity Benefit
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people, covered by the Hull benefits office, were in receipt of invalidity benefit on (a) 31 March 1995 and (b) the latest available date; [4711]
- (2) how many people formerly in receipt of invalidity benefit in the area covered by the Hull benefit office are now in (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment. [4708]
Mr. Burt: The administration of invalidity benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 21 November 1996:
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