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3 Jun 2003 : Column 52W—continued

Council Tax Benefit

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households in (a) England and (b) London were affected by council tax benefit restrictions in each year since 1998; and what his estimate is of (i) the savings to the Exchequer in each year consequent upon these restrictions and (ii) the average cost to those households affected. [111760]

Malcolm Wicks: Council Tax Benefit restrictions were introduced on 1 April 1998. Anyone receiving Council Tax Benefit on 31 March 1998 was entitled to transitional protection and was not subject to restrictions. Information on those cases where restrictions apply was not collected before 1999.

The available information is in the following tables.

Households where Council Tax Benefit is restricted to Band E in England and London at May 2000 and 2001

YearEnglandLondon
May 199915,0007,000
May 2000 16,0009,000
May 200117,0009,000

Notes:

1. Figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and are subject to a degree of sampling variation.

2. The data refer to households claiming Council Tax Benefit which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.

3. The totals include estimates for local authorities that have not responded. These estimates are based on historical and regional data. This type of estimate is standard practice in reporting totals where there have been non-respondents.

4. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

5. Totals exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.

Source:

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 1999, 2000 and 2001.

3 Jun 2003 : Column 53W

Estimated annual savings from Council Tax Benefit restrictions, and estimated average weekly cost to benefit household in England and London

EnglandLondon
YearSavings (£)Averageweekly cost per household (£)Savings (£)Averageweekly cost per household (£)
1999–20003.500,0004.251.500,0004.00
2000–014.000,0004.502.000,0004.50
2001–024.500,0005.002.500,0005.00

Notes:

1. The Average costs refer to households claiming Council Tax Benefit which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.

2. Savings figures are rounded to the nearest £500,000.

3. Average restriction figures are rounded to nearest 25p.

Child Support Agency

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average child support maintenance payment received by the parent with care is for (a) one, (b) two and (c) three or more qualifying children, for new claims processed under the new Child Support Agency formula. [112334]

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Mr. Doug Smith to Mr. Webb, dated 22 May 2003:




Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average child support maintenance assessment is for (a) all, (b) employed and (c) unemployed non-resident parents for (i) one, (ii) two and (iii) three or more qualifying children, for new claims processed under the new Child Support Agency formula. [112335]

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member

Letter from Mr. Doug Smith to Mr. Webb dated 22 May 2003:




3 Jun 2003 : Column 54W

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many new applications for child maintenance assessments have been received by the Child Support Agency since 3 March; and how many have been cleared. [112339]

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Mr. Doug Smith to Mr. Webb, dated 22 May 2003:




Disability Discrimination Act

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what guidance is being given to service providers regarding their obligations under Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement; [114500]

Maria Eagle: The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has published a statutory Code of Practice on rights of access to goods, facilities, services and premises for disabled people. This Code explains the law and provides practical guidance for all service providers, including local authorities, on their current duties and those that will come into force in 2004.

The DRC also publishes a range of guidance leaflets focusing on specific types of service provision, and provides information and advice on all aspects of the DDA free of charge, via the Commission's Helpline.

For service providers in listed buildings, English Heritage has produced 'The Easy Access Guide', a revised version of which is due to be published later this year.

The Department is also undertaking a range of activity to raise awareness of the DDA, particularly among small and medium-sized businesses. This includes a series of regional awareness days, supported by radio advertising, to raise the profile of the DDA and wider disability issues. In addition, on 15 May, I launched a video entitled 'Act Now' which provides information about the responsibilities of business and the 'Access All Areas Awards' which aim to recognise small organisations that have made imaginative changes to the way they provide services to disabled people.

3 Jun 2003 : Column 55W

Disability Living Allowance

Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that support is available for people suffering from mental illness to enable them to fill in application forms for disability living allowance. [115904]

Maria Eagle: The Disability and Carers Service have a wide range of support services available for people who may need assistance in claiming disability living allowance or attendance allowance, because of a particular illness or disability such as mental health problems. We will provide a form completion service, on request, in a format best suited to the customer's individual needs. This may be over the telephone where a trained adviser will talk the customer carefully through the claims process; in person, by appointment, at one of the Department's customer outlets; or exceptionally, a home visit pan be arranged. Additionally, we provide benefit information and advice to external customer organisations that provide an external source of help and support to people with an illness or disability.

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