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Benefits Agency
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 31 October, Official Report column 245, what progress has been made in changes to benefit delivery in Yorkshire, the west country and east London and Anglia directorates; when he expects proposals for change to be submitted by the consortiums of private companies; and what elements he expects to be run by the private sector. [16669]
Mr. Roger Evans: No changes to benefit delivery have been made in the relevant areas.
The partnerships between three private companies or consortia and the Benefits Agency area directorates are expected to start in early May and last for approximately 12 months.
The partnership period will give the private companies or consortia the opportunity to work closely with managers and staff, enabling them to understand Benefits Agency business. The private companies or consortia involved in the partnerships will not run the area directorates, or any other part of the agency during the partnership period.
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By the end of the partnership period, the private companies or consortia will be expected to provide proposals on how the agency's business can be delivered more efficiently, effectively and economically, including the possibility of further parts of the operation being run by the private sector. Proposals can be submitted at any time during the partnership period.
Until the private companies or consortia submit their proposals, it is not possible to determine what changes may be made.
Mr. Alan Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant, to his answer of 17 December, Official Report, column 535, what estimate he has made of the numbers gaining from a maintenance disregard for lone parents of (a) £5 and (b) £10. [16670]
Mr. Andrew Mitchell:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 17 December 1996, Official Report, column 535. Some 240,000 lone parents would gain from the introduction of a maintenance disregard of £5, £10 or £20 a week.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which benefits people are entitled to when they are refused incapacity benefit but cannot meet the availability for work criteria of the means-tested jobseeker's allowance due to illness or disability. [17878]
Mr. Roger Evans:
Those found capable of work following an all-work test for incapacity benefit, but who have a continuing medical condition or disability, are able to restrict their availability for work and qualify for jobseeker's allowance, provided that the restrictions are reasonable in the light of their physical or mental condition.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what benefits are available to people awaiting an appeal against a Department of Social Security decision to refuse incapacity benefit. [17879]
Mr. Burt:
Those people awaiting an appeal hearing after failing the all-work test for incapacity benefit may register with the Employment Service and claim jobseeker's allowance. Those who are not seeking work may, provided that they satisfy the entitlement conditions, receive income support.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if people refused incapacity benefit and awaiting an appeal decision who have sufficient national insurance contributions qualify for non-means-tested jobseeker's allowance as a matter of right. [17881]
Mr. Evans:
Those who have paid sufficient national insurance contributions may receive a personal rate of contributions-based jobseeker's allowance for up to six months, provided that they satisfy the labour market conditions.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the unit cost for processing claims for (a) income support, (b) income support for lone parents,
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(c) income support for pensioners, (d) child benefit, (e) family credit, (f) the basic state pension, (g) incapacity benefit and (h) contributory jobseeker's allowance; and (i) means-tested jobseeker's allowance; [18236]
(3) what is the unit cost for processing claims for (a) income support, (b) income support for lone parents, (c) income support for pensioners, (d) child benefit, (e) family credit, (f) the basic state pension, (g) incapacity benefit, (h) contributory jobseeker's allowance and (i) means-tested jobseeker's allowance in Wales. [18233]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The information is not available in the format requested. The Department publishes figures for the average weekly administration cost per beneficiary, for the main benefits, in its annual departmental report. The report for 1996-97 is due to be published shortly.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the unit cost for handling inquiries by claimants in person in Benefits Agency offices for (a) income support, (b) income support for lone parents, (c) income support for pensioners, (d) child benefit, (e) family credit, (f) the basic state pension, (g) incapacity benefit, (h) contributory jobseeker's allowance and (i) means-tested jobseeker's allowance. [18235]
Mr. Evans:
The information is not available in the format requested.
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The average unit cost, excluding overheads, for dealing with a caller in the Benefits Agency is £1.84.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the unit cost for handling inquiries from claimants by telephone for (a) income support, (b) income support for lone parents, (c) income support for pensioners, (d) child benefit, (e) family credit, (f) the basic state pension, (g) incapacity benefit, (h) contributory jobseeker's allowance and (i) means-tested jobseeker's allowance. [18234]
Mr. Evans:
The information is not available.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will reopen Camborne Benefits Agency office in Cornwall; and if he will make a statement. [17937]
Mr. Roger Evans:
This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
(2) what is the unit cost for processing claims for (a) income support, (b) income support for lone parents, (c) income support for pensioners, (d) child benefit, (e) family credit, (f) the basic state pension, (g) incapacity benefit, (h) contributory jobseeker's allowance and (i) means-tested jobseeker's allowance in Yorkshire; [18232]