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Housing Benefit
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount paid out in housing benefit in (a) 1974, (b) 1979, (c) 1988, (d) 1992, (e) 1993, (f) 1994, (g) 1995 and (h) 1996. [6680]
Mr. Keith Bradley: Our objective is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives. We will develop a system that supports work, savings and honesty.
The information is set out in the table:
| Housing Benefit expenditure | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1974-75 | (26)237 |
| 1979-80 | (26)1,238 |
| 1988-89 | 3,763 |
| 1992-93 | 7,901 |
| 1993-94 | 9,213 |
| 1994-95 | 10,120 |
| 1995-96 | 10,885 |
| 1996-97 | 11,523 |
(26)1. The current housing benefit scheme was introduced in April 1988. The 1974-75 and 1979-80 figures are an approximation of the housing benefit expenditure component of supplementary benefit.
2. Figures for 1988-89 to 1996-97 are taken from the 1997 DSS departmental report and show total expenditure paid by local authorities in the relevant years.
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 474
Computers (Century Date Change)
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on her Department's timetable for dealing with the year 2000 computer problem; who is in charge of the project; how many staff are working on it; what is the proected cost of resolving the problem; and whether the project is on schedule. [7135]
Mr. Keith Bradley:
The central information and technology unit, CITU, through its agent the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency, CCTA, has set a model timetable and framework for Government Departments to follow to ensure that business-critical systems are year 2000 compliant and thoroughly tested well in advance of 2000. The Department is on course to meet this timetable.
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The Department of Social Security has established a year 2000 project led by the Information Technology Services Agency, ITSA, to co-ordinate the extensive activity across DSS. An ITSA director, reporting to the chief executive, leads the work. There is a project manager and a core team of five staff to take the project forward within the CCTA-approved framework. In addition, each business unit has appointed co-ordinators and staff to work with the project which is working within the CCTA-approved framework for managing IT projects. The departmental board, chaired by the permanent secretary, is receiving regular reports on progress.
The project is on schedule. The Department's main computer systems have now been fully analysed for year 2000 compliance and plans to complete the necessary changes are being implemented. All the major benefit and recording computer systems supporting the day-to-day delivery of social security will be amended by the end of 1998 to permit a full year's processing before 2000. Like any large organisation, the Department also makes full use of a wide range of personal computers and commercial software packages. We are working closely with external suppliers to assess the year 2000 compliance of these products and other non-IT areas.
The total projected cost to the Department has been estimated at £30 million. A further review is to be carried out at the end of August 1997 to enable updated, costed plans to be produced in October.
Mr. Todd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to alter the assumption on income from capital in calculating council tax benefit from the current rate of £1 per week for each £250 held over £3,000. [7241]
Mr. Keith Bradley:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 2 July, Official Report, columns 205-206.
Mr. Kirkwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households claimed family credit in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [7181]
Mr. Keith Bradley:
Work is the best form of welfare for people of working age. We will develop a system that supports work, savings and honesty. Our objective is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives.
| Year | Family credit case load |
|---|---|
| November 1992 | 458,800 |
| November 1993 | 525,000 |
| November 1994 | 584,300 |
| November 1995 | 648,700 |
| November 1996 | 725,300 |
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 cases.
2. Figures relate to the family credit live case load at 30 November each year.
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 476
Members' Interests
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on what occasions (a) Minister and (b) officials have refused to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings with hon. Members to discuss matters relating to interests registered by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests.[8057]
Ms Harman: The first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Cm 2850, made it clear that, when Members are meeting Ministers or others on topics in which they have an interest, the onus is on the Member to declare that interest not the Minister to know--paragraph 63 of Cm 2850. It is not practicable for Ministers and officials, among their other duties, to vet requests for meetings against the Register of Members' Interests.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will ensure that (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department refuse requests from hon. Members to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings relating to interests held by those Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8054]
Ms Harman: The first report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Cm 2850, recognised the value of enabling Members to retain interests outside the House, provided these were properly declared both in the Register of Members' Interests and on other occasions. Subject to these requirements, and to the rules of the House relating to delegations to Ministers, Members are free to seek meetings with Ministers and officials, who will consider such requests alongside the many other approaches from individuals and organisations concerned to press their own interests or those of others.
Commercial Lobbyists
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what dates since 1 May (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have met commercial lobbyists to discuss matters relating to the business of her Department; and if she will introduce a register of such meetings; [8055]
- (2) on what dates since 1 May (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have attended meetings with organisations representing (i) commercial and (ii) non-commercial interests organised by commercial lobbying firms; and if she will introduce a register of such meetings. [8056]
Ms Harman:
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in response to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 2 June, Official Report, column 99, Ministers and officials in the Department receive deputations from many groups who
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are concerned to press their own interests or those of their clients, which Ministers and officials take due care to consider within the wider public interest and Government policy. As it is not practicable to distinguish particular groups as lobbyists, the Department cannot keep a register of such meetings.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if she will make a statement on the current proposals to move staff from the Uxbridge Benefits Agency office to the Harrow Benefits Agency office; [9332]
(3) what estimate she has made of the amount of money which will be saved by the transferral of Benefits Agency activities form the Uxbridge Benefits Agency office to the Harrow Benefits Agency office; and if she will make a statement. [9334]
Mr. Field:
One of our key aims is that delivery of service should be simpler and more efficient. To maintain and improve the level of service while keeping within announced spending totals, managers are proposing to move the processing of benefits from the Benefits Agency office at Uxbridge to the Harrow office but, as the hon. Member will see, the Benefits Agency guarantees that the range of services offered to the public will be unaltered. Queries on operational mattes are for the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, Peter Mathison. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member directly and for his reply to be published with the answer.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Mark Oaten, dated 18 July 1997:
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 478
(2) if she will extend the current consultation period for the proposed move of staff from the Uxbridge Benefits Agency office to the Harrow Benefits Agency office; and if she will make a statement; [9333]
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning the Benefits Agency (BA) offices at Harrow and Uxbridge.
The BA is currently undertaking a reappraisal of its services and the way they are delivered, in order to maintain and improve the level of service whilst keeping within the spending targets that have been set for the next two years.
The agency is committed to ensuring that people will get the help they need to claim the benefits they are entitled to. The Chilterns Area Directorate remains committed to providing a high level of service to its customers and equal access to the benefit system for all members of the public.
It is proposed to move processing staff from Uxbridge to the Harrow site. The two offices are only 11 miles apart with excellent transport links. The range of services offered to the public will be unaltered. The BA would normally only consult with outside organisations in cases where there would be a significant change in services provided. In this case, in addition to consulting staff, outside organisations were consulted, as a matter of good practice. There are no plans therefore to extend the consultation period.
Staff have been aware of the proposals since November 1996, they were disclosed to local customer organisations earlier this year and have also been reported in the local press. A letter was issued to local Members of Parliament and outside organisations on 9 July, asking for comments by 30 July, a copy of which is attached. All comments and representations will be taken in account before any decision is made.
It is expected that by making better use of existing building space, this project will save £7.9 million of public money, based on a 20 year business case. In the first 5 years the savings will be on average £370k per year.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
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