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Incapacity Benefit
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of (a) the number gaining and (b) the annual cost of extending payments of incapacity benefit for four weeks once a claimant has found a job. [15796]
Mr. Burt: Information on which to base such an estimate will not be available until early 1998 when results are due from the current survey of people leaving incapacity benefit.
Benefits (Effects of Study Rule)
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of (a) the annual cost and (b) the numbers gaining, broken down by benefit for (i) under-19-year-olds, (ii) those between 19 years and 25 years and (iii) over-25-year-olds of allowing a 21 hours per week study rule across all means-tested contributory and non-contributory benefits. [15868]
Mr. Roger Evans:
There is insufficient information on which to base an estimate.
26 Feb 1997 : Column: 280
Allowing a 21-hour study rule would affect only the income-related benefits and both the income-based and contribution-based routes into jobseeker's allowance because other benefits already allow study of up to 21 hours without loss of entitlement, or place no restrictions on hours of study generally.
Mr. Barry Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the minimum age requirements enforced by his Department. [15920]
Mr. Burt:
The minimum age at which social security benefits become payable, and liability for national insurance contributions commences, is usually 16 years. Other minimum ages are given in the table.
(14) For income-based jobseeker's allowance 16 to 17-year-olds have no entitlement to benefit as such because the Government guarantee a place on training or in education. Certain vulnerable 16 to 17-year-olds are able to claim under the severe hardship provisions.
(15) Earnings top-up is being piloted in eight areas of the country, for three years from October 1996. It is an income-related benefit for those without dependent children (single people and couples) who work 16 hours a week or more.
26 Feb 1997 : Column: 281
Housing and Council Tax Benefits
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on representations received by the Social Security Advisory Committee about the changes announced on 26 November 1996 in housing benefit and council tax benefit; and when he expects to announce his conclusions on this consultation. [16170]
Mr. Roger Evans: The Social Security Advisory Committee will be reporting by the end of this month on the housing benefit changes which were announced on 26 November 1996. We will consider carefully the report before taking final decisions.
Free School Meals
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest estimate of (a) the cost and (b) the number gaining if free school meals were extended to those in receipt of family credit. [16672]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is set out in the table:
| Estimated cost | £150 million |
| Number of families gaining | 540,000 |
| Number of dependants gaining | 1 million |
1. Costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
2. Gainers are rounded to the nearest 5,000
Income Support
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what has been the number and value of (a) overpayments and (b) underpayments of income support in each year since its introduction; and what projections he has made of future errors; [17524]
- (2) what action has been taken to correct incorrect income support payments; and what amount has been (a) recovered, and (b) compensated; [17525]
(3) if he will list his Department's estimate of the extent of incorrect income support payments by (a) region and (b) area. [17526]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The administration of income support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
26 Feb 1997 : Column: 282
| Overpayments | Underpayments | Total number of cases found | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ million | £ million | to be in error | |
| 1988-89(16) | 125 | 35 | 587,925 |
| 1989-90 | 87.6 | 57.2 | 626,256 |
| 1990-91 | 115.5 | 69.7 | 609,008 |
| 1991-92 | 231.7 | 86.8 | 850,070 |
| 1992-93 | 465.2 | 136.2 | 925,025 |
| 1993-94 | 540.1 | 76.6 | 972,888 |
| 1994-95 | 546.1 | 182.7 | 925,911 |
| 1995-96 | 485.4 | 167.5 | 879,357 |
| 1996-97 | 363.5 | 131.7 | -- |
(16) These figures include income support errors, classed by the National Audit Office, as "non-cash" errors, which represent no overall financial loss or gain to the department, as they are offset by under or overpayments of another benefit. Figures for subsequent years exclude non-cash errors.
Figures for 1988-89 to 1995-96 are National Audit Office estimates. Figures for 1996-97 are a benefits agency projection.
Figures are provisional and subject to change.
26 Feb 1997 : Column: 283
| Area directorates (AD) | Accuracy performance Per cent. |
|---|---|
| AD 1 East London and Anglia | 76.4 |
| AD 2 Chilterns | 78.0 |
| AD 3 London South | 76.3 |
| AD 4 West Country | 80.1 |
| AD 5 Mercia | 81.6 |
| AD 6 West Midlands | 82.0 |
| AD 7 Wales | 85.3 |
| Southern territory total | 79.4 |
| AD 8 North West Coast | 80.9 |
| AD 9 Greater Manchester | 81.2 |
| AD 10 Yorkshire | 81.5 |
| AD 11 Tyne Tees | 84.1 |
| AD 12 West of Scotland | 83.6 |
| AD 13 East of Scotland | 84.8 |
| Northern territory total | 82.6 |
Estimates of monetary value of error are not statistically valid at area level. Figures are provisional and subject to change.
| Underpayments | Overpayments | Total | Percentage of programme | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ million | £ million | £ million | expenditure | |
| Southern Territory | 100.6 | 287.3 | 387.9 | 3.5 |
| Northern Territory | 31.1 | 76.2 | 107.3 | 1.6 |
| National | 131.7 | 363.5 | 513.4 | 2.8 |
Figures are provisional and subject to change.
Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the conclusion of his review of income support direct payments announced on 19 July. [17970]
26 Feb 1997 : Column: 284
Mr. Lilley:
I have completed my review of direct payments for fuel and water, which included consultation with over 60 interested groups including the regulators, utility companies and consumer groups.
I have concluded that the direct payments scheme continues to play an important role in protecting benefit recipients who might otherwise be at risk of having their fuel or water supply disconnected, and for whom no alternative payment methods are suitable, but it is clear that the scheme is used by some people who are capable of making their own arrangements with the utility company. Those who are capable of managing their own financial affairs should be encouraged to do so. I therefore intend to maintain the scheme for the foreseeable future, as a last resort measure to avoid disconnection, but to make more explicit the circumstances whereby direct payments remain appropriate.
I intend to introduce amending regulations to define more clearly the eligibility conditions for the scheme, and to agree with each utility industry a new code of practice on the application of the new rules.
Copies of the report of my review are available in the Library.
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