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Appeal Tribunals
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances, in answering questions to Ministers regarding appeal tribunals, it is his policy to (a) provide the information requested, (b) inform the questioner that the president of the independent tribunal service will write to him and (c) inform the hon. Member that it is a matter for the independent tribunal service; and in what respects the policy changed between 23 January and 17 February. [17402]
Mr. Roger Evans: Responsibility for the judicial functions and administration of appeal tribunals is vested by statute in the president of the independent tribunal service.
Where the information requested by an hon. Member lies wholly within the responsibilities of the independent tribunal service, Ministers may decide either to obtain the information from the independent tribunal service in order to reply to the hon. Member, or suggest that the hon. Member deal directly with the independent tribunal service. As the hon. Member's recent questions related to matters within the responsibility of the independent tribunal service, I judged it more appropriate to direct the hon. Member to the service for the information requested.
Questions on the Government's policy in relation to appeal tribunals will, of course, continue to be answered by Ministers.
Mr. Alan Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what methodology is to be adopted by his Department to ensure that contractorisation of the services provided to the Benefits Agency delivers (a) value for money and (b) quality standards for the full term of the contract. [17621]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The methods and procedures used on all contracts for services awarded by this Department take account of prescribed policies, EU legislation and best practice.
The key criterion used in selecting contractors is that the chosen bid must demonstrate itself to be the most economically advantageous. Formal evaluation procedures, pertinent to each specific project, are put in place to ensure this is achieved.
The necessary quality standards are part of a contractor's contractual obligation. The actual performance achieved is measured against the requirements throughout the contract to ensure compliance.
4 Mar 1997 : Column: 562
Mr. Alan Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to (a) EDS, (b) Andersen, (c) BMI, (d) Capita and (e) Sema since 1992 and the broad function to be carried out by the contractor, and the value of the contract in each case. [17614]
Mr. Burt:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 18 December 1996, Official Report, columns 752-53.
Sir Andrew Bowden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of pensioners aged (a) 75 years and over, (b) 80 years and over and (c) 85 years and over received income support for the latest year for which figures are available. [17485]
| Age of pensioner | Percentage of population |
|---|---|
| 75 years and over | 24.6 |
| 80 years and over | 30.9 |
| 85 years and over | 35.9 |
Notes:
1. Sample size 5 per cent.
2. Percentages are based on the age of the income support claimant as a proportion of all pensioners in the specified age group.
3. There will be an overlap in the numbers of recipients accounted for in each banding as a recipient may appear in more than one group ie. an 80 year old recipient will be represented in both the 75 years and over and the 80 years and over groups.
Source:
1. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry February 1996.
2. Office for National Statistics mid-term estimates of the population 1995.
Social Fund
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of the social fund was spent on administration costs in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [17732]
Mr. Roger Evans: The information is set out in the table. Information for 1995-96 will be published in the Social Security departmental report later this month.
| Year | Administration cost (£ million) | Percentage of total gross expenditure | Percentage of total gross(9) expenditure plus recoveries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 208 | 51.9 | 35.3 |
| 1993-94 | (10)270 | 61.1 | 41.4 |
| 1994-95 | 209 | 46.3 | 30.5 |
(9) The social fund recycles loan repayments to help more people. Since the start of the scheme loans valued at over £1.9 billion have been made for an outlay of £384 million--a multiplier effect of some 5 times.
(10) The high administration cost for 1993-94 was largely due to expenditure on the new social fund computer system.
4 Mar 1997 : Column: 563
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the budget of the social fund for the financial year 1997-98. [18237]
Mr. Evans: Details of the discretionary social fund budget for 1997-98 will be announced later this month.
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the budget of the social fund in each of the last five years. [18238]
| Year | Grants budget | Gross loans budget(11) | In-year allocation (loans) | Total gross loans budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 91 | 211 | 15 | 225 |
| 1993-94 | 95 | 251 | 0 | 251 |
| 1994-95 | 97 | 255 | 15 | 270 |
| 1995-96 | 97 | 309 | 0 | 309 |
| 1996-97 | 97 | 322.5 | 21 | 343.5 |
(11) Includes contingency reserve.
Income Support
Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to end the classification of taxed inheritance as capital in assessing income support entitlement. [17746]
Mr. Roger Evans: There are no plans to do so.
Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will amend the rules for the disqualification of income support entitlement for families from a capital sum for each partner to an aggregate sum for both partners. [17747]
Mr. Evans: The income support rules already provide that the capital resources of partners are aggregated when assessing entitlement to benefit. The exception is where one partner is permanently in a residential care or nursing home. In such cases, each partner is assessed separately and their capital resources are not aggregated. We have no plans to amend these rules.
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has made of the current cost of funding the jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement. [17731]
Mr. Roger Evans: The estimated programme cost of jobseeker's allowance in 1996-97 is £5,681 million.
The departmental report for 1997-98, which is due to be published later this month, will contain new estimates of the cost of jobseeker's allowance.
Source: Table 1A, Departmental report 1996-97.
4 Mar 1997 : Column: 564
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions he has had with the British pensioners and the trade unions action association regarding the introduction of a supplement to the basic pension during the winter months; and if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on this matter. [18251]
Mr. Heald:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with either group.
We have no plans to introduce a supplement to the contributory retirement pension during the winter months. Cold weather payments from the social fund give extra help towards additional heating costs resulting from a sustained period of very cold weather. People in receipt of income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance who have a pensioner premium are eligible. So far this winter, over 5 million payments worth over £43 million have been issued to almost 3 million eligible people.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the current number of under 25-year-olds claiming benefits in (a) Crewe and Nantwich and (b) Cheshire. [18644]
Mr. Burt:
The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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