| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance in each constituency in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth, broken down by age group for the period from August 1998 to the latest date for which figures are available. [124992]
Angela Eagle: The administration of Jobseeker's Allowance is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.
13 Jun 2000 : Column: 605W
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Adrian Sanders, dated 12 June 2000:
- The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if he will list the number of people in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance for each constituency in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth, broken down by age group for the period from August 1998 to the latest date for which figures are available.
- The information is in the attached tables.
- I hope this is helpful.
| All cases | Aged under 25 | 25-59 | 60 and over | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth, Devonport | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.9 | -- |
| Plymouth, Sutton | 3.5 | 0.9 | 2.6 | -- |
| South West Devon | 1.1 | *0.3 | 0.8 | -- |
| Torbay | 2.5 | 0.6 | 1.9 | -- |
| East Devon | 0.9 | *0.3 | 0.6 | -- |
| Exeter | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1.3 | -- |
| North Devon | 1.6 | *0.4 | 1.2 | -- |
| Teignbridge | 1.9 | *0.4 | 1.5 | -- |
| Tiverton and Honiton | 1.4 | *0.4 | 1.0 | -- |
| Torridge and West | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.5 | -- |
| Totnes | 1.6 | *0.3 | 1.3 | -- |
| All cases | Aged under 25 | 25-59 | 60 and over | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth, Devonport | 2.1 | 0.5 | 1.6 | -- |
| Plymouth, Sutton | 3.2 | 0.7 | 2.5 | -- |
| South West Devon | 0.8 | *0.3 | 0.5 | -- |
| Torbay | 2.6 | 0.5 | 2.0 | -- |
| East Devon | 0.8 | *0.2 | 0.6 | -- |
| Exeter | 1.9 | 0.5 | 1.3 | -- |
| North Devon | 1.4 | *0.3 | 1.1 | -- |
| Teignbridge | 1.4 | *0.3 | 1.2 | -- |
| Tiverton and Honiton | 1.0 | *0.3 | 0.6 | -- |
| Torridge and West | 1.7 | *0.4 | 1.3 | -- |
| Totnes | 1.5 | *0.2 | 1.3 | -- |
| All cases | Aged under 25 | 25-59 | 60 and over | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth, Devonport | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.7 | -- |
| Plymouth, Sutton | 3.2 | 0.8 | 2.4 | -- |
| South West Devon | 0.7 | *0.3 | *0.4 | -- |
| Torbay | 2.4 | *0.5 | 1.8 | -- |
| East Devon | 0.8 | *0.4 | *0.5 | -- |
| Exeter | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.3 | -- |
| North Devon | 1.6 | *0.3 | 1.3 | -- |
| Teignbridge | 1.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | -- |
| Tiverton and Honiton | 1.1 | *0.5 | 0.6 | -- |
| Torridge and West Devon | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.1 | -- |
| Totnes | 1.7 | *0.2 | 1.2 | -- |
Notes:
1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.
2. Sample size 5%, therefore subject to sampling error.
3. Figures marked '*' of less than 500 are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
4. '--' denotes nil or negligible.
5. Cases in August 1998 are allocated to each Parliamentary Constituency by matching postcodes against the 1999 version 1 of the Postcode Directory.
13 Jun 2000 : Column: 606W
Automated Credit Transfer
Mr. David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the percentage of benefit payments which will still be made in cash following the transfer to automated credit transfer in 2003; [125254]
- (2) what changes he intends to make to the mechanism for cash payments of benefit following the transfer to automated credit transfer in 2003. [125255]
Mr. Rooker: From 2003 we intend to move from the traditional paper-based methods of benefit payment to a more secure and efficient method of paying benefits through Automated Credit Transfer (ACT). All benefit recipients will still be able to collect their cash from the post office after 2003 if they wish, and we anticipate that a number will wish to take advantage of this option.
No-smoking Policy
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on (a) the effectiveness of his Department's no-smoking policy and (b) the proportion of his Department's offices that do not allow smoking. [125149]
Mr. Rooker: The Department has a policy statement on smoking at work. Its objective is to provide a smoke- free environment at all workplaces and most other areas within its offices not covered by a mandatory ban on smoking.
In practice, the needs of smokers are taken into account, when necessary, by the provision of properly vented smoking rooms isolated from staff working areas when they can be accommodated within the structure of the building; otherwise staff must smoke outside the building.
This policy effectively means that no member of staff is put in a position whereby they are exposed to passive smoking while carrying out their duties on DSS occupied premises.
The proportion of the Department's offices which do not allow smoking anywhere in the building is not known. The decision not to allow smoking will have been taken only after a staff consultation exercise has taken place in each building and either, staff have decided in favour of a total ban, or, suitable accommodation cannot be found in the building to adapt as a smoking room. It is estimated that the number of buildings with a total ban on smoking is low.
Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the local authorities that do not have a serving inspector appointed under section 110 of the Social Security Administration (Fraud) Act 1997. [125099]
13 Jun 2000 : Column: 607W
Angela Eagle [holding answer 8 June 2000]: 209 local authorities have reported the appointment of a total of 719 inspectors empowered to make relevant inquiries and examine documents.
Local authorities fraud investigators are also able to ask their local Benefits Agency inspectors to use their powers in order to obtain information for the authority.
A list of local authorities, which have not reported the appointment of a currently serving inspector, has been placed in the Library.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the cost of removing the top two bands of housing benefit non-dependant deductions and capping the maximum non-dependant deduction to 50 per cent. of the rent due; [125292]
- (2) how many claimants are subject to each level of housing benefit non-dependant deductions; [125289]
(3) if he will estimate the cost of not imposing housing benefit non-dependant deductions where this would leave non-dependants with an income below income support level; [125293]
(4) if he will estimate the cost of abolishing housing benefit non-dependant deductions; [125290]
(5) if he will estimate the cost of capping the maximum housing benefit non-dependant deduction to 50 per cent. of the rent due. [125291]
Angela Eagle: The cost of removing the top two bands of Housing Benefit non-dependent deductions and capping the maximum non-dependant deduction to 50 per cent. of the rent due is estimated to be £40 million a year 1 .
At May 1998, the latest date for which information is available, the numbers of claimants subject to each level of Housing Benefit non-dependant deductions 2 are in the table.
| Non-dependants deduction level | Number of HB recipients to whom deduction applies |
|---|---|
| £7 | 125,000 |
| £16 | 21,000 |
| £22 | 19,000 |
| £36 | 12,000 |
| £41 | 7,000 |
| £45 | 15,000 |
Note:
All estimates were obtained using the Policy Simulation Model, which uses as base data the Family Resources Survey for 1997-98. Estimates are uprated to 2000-01 prices and benefits levels and are consistent with Departmental forecasts of the number of non- dependants in 2000-01. These forecasts are themselves based on extrapolations of Housing Benefit administrative data.
The cost of not imposing Housing Benefit non- dependant deductions where this would leave non dependants with an income below Income Support level is estimated to be £30 million a year.
13 Jun 2000 : Column: 608W
The cost of abolishing Housing Benefit non-dependant deductions is estimated to be £230 million a year.The cost of capping the maximum Housing Benefit non-dependant deduction to 50 per cent. of the rent due is estimated to be £35 million a year 1 .
- 1 Costed on basis that no deduction on behalf of any individual exceeds 50 per cent. of rent, rather than having a 50 per cent. cap on the total deduction for each household.
- Source:
- 2 Some HB recipients may be subject to more than one non-dependant deduction Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries, taken on the second Thursday of May 1998.
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many Housing Benefit recipients have been assessed under the 6 October 1997 scheme; [125296]
- (2) how many Housing Benefit recipients are still assessed under the pre-January 1996 rules on rent restrictions for private sector tenancies; [125294]
(3) how many Housing Benefit recipients are assessed under the Local Reference Rent (January 1996) scheme. [125295]
Angela Eagle: The information is in the table.
| Scheme | Housing Benefit recipients |
|---|---|
| January 1996 | 273,000 |
| October 1997 | 287,000 |
| Tenancy type | Housing Benefit recipients |
|---|---|
| Total private tenants not assessed under the January 1996, October 1996 or October 1997 schemes | 1,191,000 |
| Housing Association | 892,000 |
| Regulated | 139,000 |
| Deregulated | 158,000 |
| "Other" private tenancies | 4,000 |
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand
Source:
Housing Benefit Management Information System, quarterly caseload inquiry, taken on the second Thursday of August 1999
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |