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Social Fund Payments
Mr. Kirkwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many successful applications were made in the constituencies of Roxburgh and Berwickshire and of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale for assistance from the social fund for (i) budgeting loans, (ii) crisis
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loans, (iii) community care grants, (iv) maternity expenses, (v) funeral expenses and (iv) cold weather payments for each of the past five years for which figures are available. [21546]
Mr. Roger Evans:
The administration of the social fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
| Year | Application type | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 1991-92 | Budgeting loan | 4,757 |
| Community care grant | 1,752 | |
| Crisis loan | 5,250 | |
| Funeral payment | 317 | |
| Maternity payment | 1,322 | |
| 1992-93 | Budgeting loan | 4,928 |
| Community care grant | 1,867 | |
| Crisis loan | 5,424 | |
| Funeral payment | 374 | |
| Maternity payment | 1,258 | |
| 1993-94 | Budgeting loan | 5,007 |
| Community care grant | 1,813 | |
| Crisis loan payment | 5,052 | |
| Funeral payment | 404 | |
| Maternity payment | 1,230 | |
| 1994-95 | Budgeting loan | 4,925 |
| Community care grant | 1898 | |
| Crisis loan | 4,753 | |
| Funeral payment | 358 | |
| Maternity [payment | 1,155 | |
| 1995-96 | Budgeting loan | 4,997 |
| Community care grant | 1,749 | |
| Crisis loan | 5,073 | |
| Funeral payment | 349 | |
| Maternity payment | 1,250 |
Figures are provisional and subject to change.
Personal Pensions
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have opted out of occupational pensions into personal pensions in each year since 1988. [19948]
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Mr. Heald:
The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have taken out occupational pensions since 1988. [19947]
Mr. Heald:
It is estimated that, during 1993-94 8.9 million people were active members of contracted-out occupational pension schemes. The most recent date for which information about other categories is available is 1991. There were then over 1 million people in not contracted-out occupational pension schemes. A further 3 million people had preserved rights from previous memberships of an occupational pension scheme and 6.5 million people were in receipt of an occupational pension.
Sources:
Contributors and Contributions; Summary Statistics 1993-94.
Government Actuary's Department's Survey of Occupational Pension Schemes 1991.
Outturn Expenditure
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the outturn expenditure by his Department in the current financial year; how much of this represents (a) payments to beneficiaries and (b) administrative costs; what estimate he has made of the amount in each of those categories incurred in Wales; and how many staff his Department employs in (i) Wales, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) England. [20746]
Mr. Burt: The total estimated outturn for Department of Social Security expenditure in 1996-97 is £90,834 million. The estimated 1996-97 outturn for administrative costs, inclusive of all grants and subsidies, is £3,535 million. The estimated 1996-97 expenditure on payments to beneficiaries, including housing benefit and council tax benefit is £87,299 million. Figures for individual benefits are in the table.
The Department does not routinely collect information by country. However, it is estimated that about 6 per cent. of all social security expenditure is in respect of Wales. The numbers of staff employed by the Department in the constituent parts of the UK on 1 January 1997 are as follows:-
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England: 80,658 1
Scotland: 9,483 1
Wales: 4,380 1
Northern Ireland 13 1 2
Total: 94,514.
Notes:
1 Figures expressed on a whole time equivalent basis.
2 As well as 13 staff directly employed by the DSS, the Department repays Department of Health and Social Services for the operational services it provides.
3 The expenditure figures provided are for the direct administrative costs of the Department and direct payments to beneficiaries. They therefore exclude the cost associated with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
| Benefits | Estimated outturn £ million |
|---|---|
| Retirement pension | 31,851 |
| Xmas bonus | 119 |
| Widows benefit | 1,052 |
| Unemployment benefit/job seekers allowance (contribution based) | 999 |
| Statutory sick pay | 26 |
| Incapacity benefit | 7,767 |
| Maternity allowance | 36 |
| Statutory maternity pay | 485 |
| Guardian and child allowance | 2 |
| Non-contributory retirement pension | 36 |
| Non-contributory xmas bonus | 17 |
| War pensions | 1,419 |
| Attendance allowance | 2,421 |
| Invalid care allowance | 768 |
| Severe disablement allowance | 893 |
| Disability living allowance | 4,361 |
| Disability working allowance | 25 |
| Industrial injury benefit | 716 |
| Income support for the elderly, income support under 60 years of age, job seekers allowance (income based) | 16,475 |
| Earnings top up | 11 |
| Child benefit | 6,724 |
| One parent benefit | 348 |
| Family credit | 2,047 |
| Housing benefit and council tax benefit | 8,329 |
| Others (small benefits) | 372 |
| Total | 87,299 |
Source:
1997 Departmental Report: Table 1.
Benefits Agency Psychiatrists
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many psychiatrists are engaged by the Benefits Agency on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement. [20755]
Mr. Burt: The administration of the Benefits Agency Medical Services 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. Bob Parry, dated 21 March 1997:
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The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many psychiatrists are engaged by the Benefits Agency (BA) on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.
BA has no doctors on Merseyside who are known to have psychiatric qualifications.
Examining doctors receive specific training in undertaking medical examinations connected with claims for Social Security benefits. Doctors who conduct examinations in connection with Incapacity Benefit are required to undergo a four day modular training course which can be tailored to meet individual needs. Elements of the course include the technical aspects of Incapacity Benefit, the requirements for the content of the medical report form, selecting and justifying the choice of descriptors which specify the level of a customer's disability in each functional area, and mental health problems. The course also has, and I attach great importance to this, elements on customer service and equal opportunities.
In addition to this, all full-time BAMS Doctors have to undergo a two day residential course covering the clinical areas they are likely to encounter such as back pain and psychiatric disorders and those which are likely to cause particular difficulties, such as chronic fatigue states. Many of the sessions in these courses are conducted
by internationally recognised experts in their fields. The Benefits Agency Doctors are then responsible for cascading this information to the part-time fee paid Doctors who are also involved in this work.
I should make it clear that BA does not specifically engage doctors because of their psychiatric expertise.
If the opinion of a hospital specialist is deemed necessary in connection with a claim for benefit, a separate report is requested by BA.
I hope this reply is helpful.
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