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Housing Benefit
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to alter housing benefit regulations; and if she will make a statement. [1737]
Mr. Bradley: We are reviewing a range of Housing Benefit provisions. Any proposals for legislative changes will be announced in due course.
Pensioner Incomes
Mr. Hill:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage and number of (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples have a total income
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of at least £125 per week; and what percentage and number of pensioner couples have a total of income of at least (i) £200 per week and (ii) £250 per week. [2122]
Mr. Denham:
We are examining ways of getting more help to the poorest pensioners.
| Number | Percentage of pensioner units | |
|---|---|---|
| Single pensioners | 1,450,000 | 33 (singles) |
| Pensioner couples | 2,450,000 | 91 (couples) |
| Number | Percentage of pensioner units | |
|---|---|---|
| Income at least £200 per week | 1,250,000 | 47 |
| Income at least £250 per week | 800,000 | 30 |
Source:
Pensioners' Incomes Series 1994-95.
Notes:
1. The information is based on gross unequivalised income before housing costs at July 1994 prices. Numbers of "pensioner units" are rounded to the nearest 50,000.
2. A pensioner unit is defined as a single person over State Pension Age (SPA) or a couple where the man, defined as the head, is over SPA.
Benefit Reviews
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many reviews of social security benefits are being conducted by her Department. [2674]
Mr. Field: We are committed to modernising the structure and delivery of Social Security in order to encourage independence, social cohesion and well being; to develop an active welfare system which supports work, savings and honesty; and to help tackle effectively unjustifiable social and economic inequalities. To that end we will be examining the major components of the system. We will consult on specific issues in due course.
Benefits Offices (Wales)
Mr. Opik: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the future of benefits offices in Wales. [3225]
Mr. Field: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 11 June, Official Report, columns 493-94.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to make asylum seekers eligible for benefit. [3387]
Mr. Bradley:
Under current rules those asylum seekers who make an application for asylum when they first arrive in this country, or who make an application for asylum within three months of the Home Secretary declaring their
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country subject to upheaval, are already eligible to claim Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based), Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Those asylum seekers who make their application after they have arrived in this country, or who are appealing against a negative Home Office decision on their asylum application are not eligible to claim Social Security benefits.
However, we are committed to a wide ranging review of the Social Security system to reduce poverty and social division. We will consider the position of all claimants, including asylum seekers as part of this review.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 2 June, Official Report, column 114, relating to the recent House of Lords
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judgment on the Halliday case; what estimate she has made of the annual cost of the steps being taken by the Benefits Agency; and what preparatory actions were taken by her Department prior to the judgment. [2305]
Mr. Denham
[holding answer 11 June 1997]: The Benefits Agency are currently estimating the administrative costs arising from this judgment. Additional benefit expenditure on those cases covered by the judgment is estimated to be £3 million for 1997-98.