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Lone Parents
Mr. Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list for the most recent available period, (a) the number of claimants of one-parent benefit in the United Kingdom and each region and nation, (b) the estimated number of claimants of one-parent benefit for the same areas who are (i) working and (ii) working and receiving family credit, (c) the number of claimants of one-parent benefit who are also receiving
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lone-parent premium for the same areas and (d) the number of new claimants in each area over the most recent 12 month period. [12979]
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Mr. Keith Bradley:
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table:
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| Country/region(29) | One parent benefit (OPB) recipients(30) | Lone parents receiving family credit(31) | OPB recipients receiving lone parent premium in income support/jobseeker's allowance(32) (33) | OPB recipients receiving lone parent premium in housing benefit(33) (34) | OPB recipients receiving lone parent premium in council tax benefit(33) (34) | New claims to OPB(35) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 1,027,000 | 326,000 | 388,000 | 109,000 | 89,000 | 165,000 |
| England | 874,000 | 263,000 | 335,000 | 91,000 | 75,000 | n/a |
| South-east (including London) | n/a | n/a | 140,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| North | n/a | n/a | 23,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | n/a | n/a | 28,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| East Midlands | n/a | n/a | 21,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| East Anglia | n/a | n/a | 10,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| South-west | n/a | n/a | 23,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| West Midlands | n/a | n/a | 32,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| North-west | n/a | n/a | 58,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Scotland | 104,000 | 45,000 | 35,000 | 14,000 | 11,000 | n/a |
| Wales | 50,000 | 19,000 | 18,000 | 4,000 | 3,000 | n/a |
(29) Standard statistical English regions.
(30) As at 31 December 1996. Based on 1 per cent. sample of child benefit centre records.
(31) As at 31 December 1996. Represents the maximum number of such lone parents that could potentially be in receipt of OPB. Based on 5 per cent. sample of family credit records.
(32) Income support as at November 1996, based on Quarterly Statistical Enquiry. Excludes 6,000 jobseeker's allowance (Income based) cases which cannot be split by country/region.
(33) Excludes OPB recipients receiving income support/jobseeker's allowance/housing benefit/council tax benefit but not receiving a lone parent premium because they receive a higher value premium e.g., disabled child premium.
(34) Housing benefit/council tax benefit recipients not also in receipt of IS/JSA, as at May 1996. Based on HB/CTB Annual Statistical Enquiry. There is an overlap as most people receive both HB and CTB.
(35) For year ending 31 December 1996. Based on 1 per cent. sample of child benefit centre records.
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Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 30 July, Official Report, column 364, what estimate she has made of the number of lone parents in receipt of income support in each of the next three financial years. [12822]
Mr. Keith Bradley: The latest estimates of the number of lone parents in receipt of income support in each of the next three financial years are shown in the table. Unfortunately revised estimates will not actually be available until publication of the 1998 social security departmental report next Spring.
| Thousands | |
|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 1,054 |
| 1998-99 | 1,044 |
| 1999-00 | 1,054 |
1. Figures are consistent with those given in tables 6 and 7 in the 1997 Social Security Departmental Report and are rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent sample and as such are subject to a degree of sampling variation.
Backdating
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for benefit made in the last year were eventually backdated (a) up to one month, (b) at least one month but less than three months, (c) at least three months but less than 12 months and
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(d) at least 12 months for each of the major social security benefits. [12818]
Mr. Keith Bradley:
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
| Claims | ||
|---|---|---|
| Over 1 month, up to 3 months | Over 3 months | |
| Retirement pension | Negligible | 40,000 |
| Incapacity benefit | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Invalid care allowance | 20,000 | 30,000 |
| Industrial injuries disablement benefit | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| Contributory jobseeker's allowance | (36)-- | Negligible |
| Income support/income based jobseeker's allowance | 105,000 | 30,000 |
| Child benefit/one parent benefit | (37)-- | 65,000 |
| Housing benefit (HB)/council tax benefit (CTB) | HB 5,000/ | |
| CTB15,000 | HB 45,000/ | |
| CTB 100,000 | ||
| Other benefits | Negligible | Negligible |
| Total | 155,000 | 325,000 |
(36) Information not available.
(37) Information not readily available.
Information is based on a small ad-hoc survey of benefit claims undertaken during early 1996.
Figures may not sum due to rounding.
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Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the main reasons why individuals claim benefits late; and if she will make a statement. [12819]
Mr. Bradley: An ad hoc survey of a small number of Benefits Agency local offices was undertaken in early 1996 to provide information on the extent of backdating and, in those benefits where it was possible to identify, the reason for backdating.
This information was used in deciding on the range of exceptions provided in the current regulations.
Dr. Gibson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the time-table for the implementation of limits on the backdating of benefits to one month. [12953]
Mr. Bradley:
We intend to implement the new backdating rules in June 1998 for all benefits except housing benefit and council tax benefit which will be implemented in October 1998.
Custodial Sentences
11. Mr. Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the deterrent effects of custodial sentences. [11667]
Ms Quin: The Home Office research and statistics directorate has recently commissioned a literature review of the deterrent effect of the various sentencing options which will be completed early next year.
Crime (Rural Areas)
17. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives he intends to take to reduce crime in rural areas. [11673]
Mr. Michael: Our comprehensive strategy against crime includes a new statutory duty on local authorities and the police to develop local partnerships to prevent crime and promote community safety. This will benefit all parts of the country: rural as well as urban and inner city by targeting the specific problems and needs of each area.
Criminal Justice
22. Ms Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce delays in the criminal justice system. [11678]
25. Mr. Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to tackle delays in the criminal justice system. [11681]
Mr. Michael:
The Government are committed to tackling delay throughout the criminal justice system and have pledged to halve the time taken to deal with persistent young offenders. We have accepted proposals from the review of delay in the criminal justice system which are designed to enable straightforward guilty plea cases to be dealt within days of charge, improve case
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management in magistrates courts and start indictable-only cases in the Crown Court. The Crime and Disorder Bill will contain the necessary measures and, to underpin them, will make provision for statutory time limits which will be tougher for young offenders than for adults, and tougher still for persistent young offenders. Our proposals for legislation to speed up youth justice were published in a consultation paper, "Tackling Delay in the Youth Justice System", on 15 October when we also published comprehensive guidance for youth justice agencies on tackling delays within the existing statutory framework.
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