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Benefit Fraud Inspectorate
Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to publish the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate report on Tower Hamlets. [93448]
Mr. Timms: I published the report of the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate's inspection of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on Thursday 22 July 1999.
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the local authorities for which Benefit Fraud Inspectorate inspections have been completed and reports remain to be published. [93315]
Mr. Timms:
The Benefit Fraud Inspectorate is currently undertaking 27 inspections. These inspections are all at different stages. Of these, 15 have been completed to at least draft report stage.
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These inspections are in the following local authorities:
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints and representations have been received by (a) his office and (b) the Benefits Agency arising from the new NIRS2 computer system; and if he will make a statement. [93196]
Mr. Timms:
To date there have been 110 parliamentary questions arising from the implementation of the new National Insurance Recording System (NIRS2). Between 1 June 1998 and 31 March 1999 the Secretary of State for Social Security received 87 parliamentary questions. Since 1 April 1999 a further 23 have been received of which 11 were transferred to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
There have been 240 letters specifically relating to NIRS2 of which 85 were received by Ministers, 73 by the Benefits Agency and 82 by the former Contributions Agency.
Between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 1999 752 letters were received with queries about the rates of Retirement Pension, 366 were addressed to Ministers and 386 to the Benefits Agency. Some of these will relate to the implementation of NIRS2.
Information about the numbers of complaints, received at local benefit offices, arising from the NIRS2 computer system, is not available. However, the Benefits Agency has completed over 13,600 clerical calculations of Retirement Pension and Widows Benefits.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have not received their full pension at retirement date due to failure of the new NIRS2 computer system; and if he will make a statement. [93197]
Mr. Timms:
I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 22 July 1999, Official Report, columns 575-76.
It is estimated that there were up to 285,000 pensioners affected by the NIRS2 problems who therefore potentially may have been underpaid at retirement date.
Contingency arrangements were put in place to minimise the effect on customers claiming Incapacity Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Retirement Pension and Widows Benefit. These arrangements included
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making emergency payments to people claiming Retirement Pension and Widows Benefits where information was not available, interim payments of Jobseeker's Allowance and payment of some Incapacity Benefit claims based on information provided by the customer. Parliament was kept informed of the arrangements.
In order to provide adequate protection for the public purse, those who receive payments under emergency procedures are required to sign an undertaking to repay benefit where subsequent inquiries show that the amount due was less than the amount paid. This procedure has been followed in the case of the payments made as a result of the NIRS2 problems and recovery of any overpayments will be pursued in accordance with laid down procedures. Early figures from the Benefits Agency's work on reviewing affected cases indicates that overpayments have occurred in only a very small proportion of those examined. In addition, I have instructed the Benefits Agency to ensure that cases are dealt with as sensitively as possible and with full regard to the individual's circumstances.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in receipt of any disability benefit are (a) HIV positive and (b) AIDS patients in the current year; and what were the equivalent figures for the each of the past three years. [93542]
Mr. Bayley:
The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
Oxford
Bournemouth
Lichfield
Sandwell
Swansea
West Wiltshire
Powys
Wigan
Shrewsbury and Atcham
Norwich
York
Carlisle
Calderdale
Rotherham
Ellesmere Port.
| Date | Number |
|---|---|
| August 1995 | 5,300 |
| August 1996 | 6,000 |
| August 1997 | 6,500 |
| August 1998 | 6,700 |
Notes:
1. Figures exclude a small number of cases not recorded on the computer system.
2. The statistics do not include cases where a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS is not recorded as the main disabling condition.
3. Information on people either below working age or over retirement age is not included.
Source:
Cross Benefit Analysis of Analytical Services Division 5 per cent. statistical samples.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements are made to take account of ME sufferers in estimating capacity to work in the All Work Test for invalidity benefit; what changes will be made on the introduction of the new test; and if he will make a statement. [93550]
Mr. Bayley:
The All Work Test is an objective test of the effects of illness or disability on functional capacity, which assesses whether a person reaches the level of incapacity at which they are not required to work, or seek work, as a condition for receiving social security benefits.
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Full account is taken of factors such as pain, fatigue and the ability to repeat an activity reliably and safely. Doctors and decision makers are required to look at what a person is able to do over a period of time, not just at the time of a medical examination.
ME, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or post viral fatigue disease, is a complex and widely variable condition and each case needs to be assessed on individual findings. The Department's Chief Medical Adviser issues guidance to examining doctors and ensures that guidance and training is reviewed in the light of the latest developments in the understanding of ME.
The Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill replaces the All Work Test with the Personal Capability Assessment. The criteria for entitlement to benefit, and the way in which entitlement decisions are reached, will not change but the new assessment will also provide information on what individuals are able to do despite their illness or disability and medical advice on practical measures which might help them return to work. For conditions such as ME, this will include information about, for example, the ability to sustain activities and the effects of stress and of fluctuation in the condition.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the nature of the cases of alleged misconduct which led to investigation by the European Commission, listed in his letter to the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Maclean) of 29 April, indicating the nature of the delays in those cases pending action. [91839]
Ms Quin:
I have been asked to reply.
I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the Chairman of Advantage West Midlands; and what matters were discussed. [92542]
Mr. Wills:
RDA Chairs including Alex Stephenson, Chairman of Advantage West Midlands, met with my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), in his former capacity as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in November 1998 when they discussed the Competitiveness White Paper, "Inward Investment, Innovation and Business Support".
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what population figure is being used for the purpose of assessing post-1999 European funding for the West Midlands; and how the basis for this figure differs from that submitted by the Development Agency. [92545]
Mr. Wills:
The UK's overall population coverage under Objective 2 is defined by the safety net at 13.7 million. This figure is for the whole UK, there are no pre-determined
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population figures for the regions. No decisions have been made yet on which areas will be eligible for Objective 2 funding for 2000 to 2006.
The basis for assessing the West Midlands will be the relevant population figures required to conform with Article 4 of the European Structural Funds Regulations.
All areas will be considered for inclusion on the basis of need against the criteria under Article 4 of the Structural Funds Regulations published on 26 June 1999.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what formula is used to calculate the relevant population figures for post-1999 European structural funding; [92544]
Mr. Wills:
The populations ceilings for Objective 1 and 2 are governed by Article 3 and 4 in the European Structural Funds Regulations. It is the responsibility of the European Commission to calculate the population ceilings at member state level.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) the actual population and (b) the notional population figures used for the purpose of allocating European structural funds for each region in England. [92543]
Mr. Wills:
The UK's overall population coverage under Objective 2 is defined by the safety net which limits the reduction in coverage to one third of existing Objective 2 and 5b population. This amounts to 13.7 million total population based on figures provided by the European Commission.
This population total is for the whole UK. There is no pre-set population figure for regions.
(2) what basis is used for establishing population figures relevant to post-1999 European structural funding. [92546]
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