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Benefits (Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the cost of benefits, paid as a result of unemployment in Shrewsbury and Atcham was on (a) 1 May 1997 and (b) the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [154662]
Angela Eagle: The available data only allow us to estimate the number of people in a Member of Parliament's constituency getting benefits as a result of unemployment. It is not possible to estimate the cost of these benefits at a constituency level.
Correspondence
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will reply to the hon. Member for Ludlow's letter of 28 November 2000 regarding Mrs. Lingard-Lane, a constituent. [154781]
Angela Eagle: A reply was issued on Monday 2 April 2001.
Flooding (Housing Benefit)
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received on flood victims in receipt of Housing Benefit who have been forced to evacuate their homes and move into alternative accommodation; when will the review into their circumstances will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [155113]
Angela Eagle: I am aware of the hon. Member's concerns. We have no record of any other representations on this subject. As stated in my written answer on
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12 March 2001, Official Report, column 460W, we are reviewing the current arrangements and this review is still ongoing.
Gateway Benefits
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the eligibility criteria for gateway benefits are for (a) a newly unemployed UK citizen, (b) an asylum seeker awaiting determination of their case, (c) an asylum seeker whose request to stay has been granted and (d) a discharged prisoner. [155552]
Angela Eagle: The basic conditions for a newly unemployed UK citizen to qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) are that they must be available for and
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actively seeking employment of, normally, at least 40 hours per week. Jobseekers are also required to enter into a Jobseeker's Agreement which details the steps they will take to enable them to return to work.
The Home Office is responsible for supporting and accommodating asylum seekers awaiting a determination of their case. Those asylum seekers in receipt of benefits prior to 3 April 2000 continue to be eligible to claim Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Asylum seekers whose applications are accepted and are awarded either refugee status or exceptional leave to stay are eligible for Social Security benefits in the normal way.
In general, discharged prisoners are treated in the same way as any other benefit claimant and must satisfy the eligibility criteria for each benefit claimed.