House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 Feb 2005 (pt 25)

21 Feb 2005 : Column 92W—continued

Benefit Claims

Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process a claim for council tax benefit was in each year for which figures are available. [215247]

Mr. Pond: Average processing times are only available for new claims for council tax benefit. Figures are not available prior to April 2000. The available information is in the following table.
Average number of days to process new council tax benefit claims, Great Britain: April 2000 to September 2004

Period Days

2000–01 60

2001–02 58

2002–03 53

2003–04 47

2004–051

April to June 2004 46

July to September 2004 47

⁽³⁰⁾2004–05 data is available for the first two quarters only.
Notes:
1.The figures are rounded to the nearest whole day.
2.The figures are taken from April to March each year and are four quarter averages.
Source:
Housing Benefit Management Information System Quarterly Administration Returns April 2000 to September 2004.

Period	Days
2000–01	60
2001–02	58
2002–03	53
2003–04	47

2004–051
April to June 2004	46
July to September 2004	47

Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people claimed job seekers' allowance in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available; [215386]

(2) how many people claimed income support in each constituency in Scotland in the latest period for which figures are available. [215388]

Mr. Pond: The information is in the following table.
Income support (IS) and jobseekers allowance (JSA) claimants in Scotland by parliamentary constituency, as at August 2004.

JSA

IS All Contribution-based only Income-based Credits-only

Aberdeen Central 3,300 1,300 *400 800 *100

Aberdeen North 2,500 700 *200 500 —

Aberdeen South 2,100 700 *100 600 ⁽³¹⁾—

Airdrie and Shotts 4,700 1,500 *400 1,000 *100

Angus 2,400 1,600 *400 1,000 *200

Argyll and Bute 2,100 1,000 *100 800 *100

Ayr 2,500 1,300 *300 900 *100

Banff and Buchan 2,600 900 *200 600 *100

Caithness Sutherland and Easter Ross 1,800 1,100 *300 700 *100

Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley 3,700 1,600 *200 1,200 *200

Central Fife 3,800 2,000 *300 1,600 *200

Clydebank and Milngavie 3,200 1,200 *200 900 *100

Clydesdale 3,500 1,200 *300 600 *200

Coatbridge and Chryston 3,700 1,300 *200 1,000 *100

Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 2,900 1,000 *200 600 *200

Cunninghame North 3,100 1,700 *300 1,300 *100

Cunninghame South 4,100 2,700 500 1,900 *300

Dumbarton 3,100 1,700 *200 1,300 *100

Dumfries 2,600 1,000 *200 800 *100

Dundee East 4,600 2,000 *200 1,700 ⁽³¹⁾—

Dundee West 4,300 1,800 *400 1,300 *200

Dunfermline East 3,000 1,700 *300 1,300 *100

Dunfermline West 2,200 1,200 *100 1,000 *100

East Kilbride 2,600 1,400 *400 800 *200

East Lothian 2,500 800 *300 *300 *100

Eastwood 2,100 1,100 *200 700 *200

Edinburgh Central 3,200 1,200 *300 700 *200

Edinburgh East and Musselburgh 4,400 1,400 *200 1,000 *100

Edinburgh North and Leith 3,700 1,400 *300 1,000 *100

Edinburgh Pentlands 2,700 1,000 *100 700 *100

Edinburgh South 2,300 1,000 *200 700 *100

Edinburgh West 2,200 1,000 *200 800 ⁽³¹⁾—

Falkirk East 2,400 1,100 *300 700 *100

Falkirk West 3,300 1,400 *300 1,100 *100

Galloway and Upper Nithsdale 2,400 900 *100 700 *100

Glasgow Anniesland 5,300 1,500 *200 1,200 *100

Glasgow Baillieston 6,000 1,500 *200 1,100 *100

Glasgow Cathcart 5,000 1,400 *300 900 *200

Glasgow Govan 5,400 1,800 *300 1,300 *100

Glasgow Kelvin 4,400 1,700 *100 1,500 *100

Glasgow Maryhill 7,200 2,100 *300 1,700 *100

Glasgow Pollok 5,400 1,400 *200 1,100 *100

Glasgow Rutherglen 4,400 1,200 *100 1,000 *100

Glasgow Shettleston 8,600 2,400 *300 2,000 *200

Glasgow Springburn 6,800 2,700 *300 2,300 *100

Gordon 1,200 700 *200 *300 *100

Greenock and Inverclyde 3,800 2,300 600 1,500 *200

Hamilton North and Bellshill 4,000 1,500 *300 1,100 *100

Hamilton South 3,600 1,400 *200 1,100 *100

Inverness East Nairn and Lochaber 2,200 800 *200 500 *100

Kilmarnock and Loudoun 3,900 2,000 *200 1,600 *100

Kirkcaldy 3,000 2,200 *200 1,700 *300

Linlithgow 3,100 1,200 *300 800 *100

Livingston 3,500 1,100 *200 800 *100

Midlothian 2,300 800 *200 600 *100

Moray 1,900 900 *200 600 *200

Motherwell and Wishaw 4,200 1 ,600 *300 1,200 *100

North East Fife 1,100 900 *200 *400 *300

North Tayside 2,000 1,100 *200 700 *100

Ochil 2,700 1,500 *300 1,000 *100

Orkney and Shetland 800 500 *100 *300 *100

Paisley North 4,900 1,600 *400 1,100 *100

Paisley South 3,900 1,400 *300 1,000 *100

Perth 2,400 1,100 *300 800 *100

Ross Skye and Inverness West 2,700 1,200 *200 700 *200

Roxburgh and Berwickshire 1,800 500 *100 *400 ⁽³¹⁾—

Stirling 2,300 1,000 *100 700 *200

Strathkelvin and Bearsden 2,000 900 *100 700 *100

Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale 1,300 500 *200 *200 *100

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 1,300 600 *200 *300 ⁽³¹⁾—

West Renfrewshire 2,600 1,200 *300 800 *100

Western Isles 700 600 *100 *400 ⁽³¹⁾—

⁽³¹⁾—denotes nil or negligible
Notes:
1.Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
2.Numbers marked *" are based on very few sample cases and are subject to a high degree of sampling variation. These figures should be used as a guide to the current situation only.
3.Income-based JSA figures include claimants who would also be entitled to the contributory element.
Source:
Information Directorate, 5 per cent. sample.

21 Feb 2005 : Column 95W

		JSA
	IS	All	Contribution-based only	Income-based	Credits-only
Aberdeen Central	3,300	1,300	*400	800	*100
Aberdeen North	2,500	700	*200	500	—
Aberdeen South	2,100	700	*100	600	⁽³¹⁾—
Airdrie and Shotts	4,700	1,500	*400	1,000	*100
Angus	2,400	1,600	*400	1,000	*200
Argyll and Bute	2,100	1,000	*100	800	*100
Ayr	2,500	1,300	*300	900	*100
Banff and Buchan	2,600	900	*200	600	*100
Caithness Sutherland and Easter Ross	1,800	1,100	*300	700	*100
Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley	3,700	1,600	*200	1,200	*200
Central Fife	3,800	2,000	*300	1,600	*200
Clydebank and Milngavie	3,200	1,200	*200	900	*100
Clydesdale	3,500	1,200	*300	600	*200
Coatbridge and Chryston	3,700	1,300	*200	1,000	*100
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	2,900	1,000	*200	600	*200
Cunninghame North	3,100	1,700	*300	1,300	*100
Cunninghame South	4,100	2,700	500	1,900	*300
Dumbarton	3,100	1,700	*200	1,300	*100
Dumfries	2,600	1,000	*200	800	*100
Dundee East	4,600	2,000	*200	1,700	⁽³¹⁾—
Dundee West	4,300	1,800	*400	1,300	*200
Dunfermline East	3,000	1,700	*300	1,300	*100
Dunfermline West	2,200	1,200	*100	1,000	*100
East Kilbride	2,600	1,400	*400	800	*200
East Lothian	2,500	800	*300	*300	*100
Eastwood	2,100	1,100	*200	700	*200
Edinburgh Central	3,200	1,200	*300	700	*200
Edinburgh East and Musselburgh	4,400	1,400	*200	1,000	*100
Edinburgh North and Leith	3,700	1,400	*300	1,000	*100
Edinburgh Pentlands	2,700	1,000	*100	700	*100
Edinburgh South	2,300	1,000	*200	700	*100
Edinburgh West	2,200	1,000	*200	800	⁽³¹⁾—
Falkirk East	2,400	1,100	*300	700	*100
Falkirk West	3,300	1,400	*300	1,100	*100
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale	2,400	900	*100	700	*100
Glasgow Anniesland	5,300	1,500	*200	1,200	*100
Glasgow Baillieston	6,000	1,500	*200	1,100	*100
Glasgow Cathcart	5,000	1,400	*300	900	*200
Glasgow Govan	5,400	1,800	*300	1,300	*100
Glasgow Kelvin	4,400	1,700	*100	1,500	*100
Glasgow Maryhill	7,200	2,100	*300	1,700	*100
Glasgow Pollok	5,400	1,400	*200	1,100	*100
Glasgow Rutherglen	4,400	1,200	*100	1,000	*100
Glasgow Shettleston	8,600	2,400	*300	2,000	*200
Glasgow Springburn	6,800	2,700	*300	2,300	*100
Gordon	1,200	700	*200	*300	*100
Greenock and Inverclyde	3,800	2,300	600	1,500	*200
Hamilton North and Bellshill	4,000	1,500	*300	1,100	*100
Hamilton South	3,600	1,400	*200	1,100	*100
Inverness East Nairn and Lochaber	2,200	800	*200	500	*100
Kilmarnock and Loudoun	3,900	2,000	*200	1,600	*100
Kirkcaldy	3,000	2,200	*200	1,700	*300
Linlithgow	3,100	1,200	*300	800	*100
Livingston	3,500	1,100	*200	800	*100
Midlothian	2,300	800	*200	600	*100
Moray	1,900	900	*200	600	*200
Motherwell and Wishaw	4,200	1 ,600	*300	1,200	*100
North East Fife	1,100	900	*200	*400	*300
North Tayside	2,000	1,100	*200	700	*100
Ochil	2,700	1,500	*300	1,000	*100
Orkney and Shetland	800	500	*100	*300	*100
Paisley North	4,900	1,600	*400	1,100	*100
Paisley South	3,900	1,400	*300	1,000	*100
Perth	2,400	1,100	*300	800	*100
Ross Skye and Inverness West	2,700	1,200	*200	700	*200
Roxburgh and Berwickshire	1,800	500	*100	*400	⁽³¹⁾—
Stirling	2,300	1,000	*100	700	*200
Strathkelvin and Bearsden	2,000	900	*100	700	*100
Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale	1,300	500	*200	*200	*100
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine	1,300	600	*200	*300	⁽³¹⁾—
West Renfrewshire	2,600	1,200	*300	800	*100
Western Isles	700	600	*100	*400	⁽³¹⁾—

Benefit Payments (Chorley)

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Chorley constituency received the winter fuel allowance in 2004–05; and what total amounts such payments represented in that year. [216200]

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not yet available for winter 2004–05. Information about the number of payments at each rate to people in the Chorley constituency for winter 2003–04 is in the Library. We would expect the number to be similar for this winter.

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Chorley constituency have received pension credit in each year since it was introduced. [216201]

Malcolm Wicks: The information is given in the table. Further information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit and average awards at 31 December 2004 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report, which was published on 3 February. A copy of the report is in the Library.
Pension credit recipients, Chorley, 2003–04

As at December: Households Individuals

2003 3,065 3,660

2004 3,920 4,795

Notes:
1.Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
2.Figures relate to the end of the month.
3.Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
4.Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee from 6 October 2003.
5.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
6.The figures for December 2004 are the latest available.
Source:
IAD Information Centre, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

As at December:	Households	Individuals
2003	3,065	3,660
2004	3,920	4,795

Benefits Agency

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department gives to the Benefits Agency on steps to be followed in relation to payment of income support when the Agency has made an error in calculation; and if he will make a statement. [214844]

Mr. Pond: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Laurence Robertson, dated 17 February 2005:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning what guidance is given to the Benefits Agency on steps to be followed in relation to payment of Income Support when the Agency has made an error in calculation. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.

It may be helpful if I first explain that the Benefits Agency ceased to exist in April 2002 and was replaced, for people of working age, with Jobcentre Plus. Our aim is to provide people of working age with the help and support to which they are entitled.

21 Feb 2005 : Column 96W

In answer to your specific question, if an Income Support decision is found to be erroneous, the Decision Maker's Guide and the Income Support specific Guidance and Procedures advise the Decision Maker of the appropriate steps to take to revise the decision. If there has been an underpayment of Income Support, any arrears of benefit will be paid. If an overpayment has occurred, a decision will be made as to whether the overpayment has been caused by official error and whether the overpayment is recoverable or can be offset.

I hope this is helpful.

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