§ 8. Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his current estimate of the number of persons receiving benefit in Newham. [6852]
§ Mr. Roger EvansSome information on the numbers receiving individual benefits in Newham is available. 111 However, as people often receive more than one benefit, I cannot supply information on how many, in total, are receiving benefit.
§ Mr. BanksThat sounds a bit like a cop-out. We know that there are tens of thousands of such people. It would help if the Minister would register that fact, because it shows the extent of poverty in Newham.
Is the Minister aware that one of the worst problems arises from the habitual residence test—which exists not in law, but only in Benefits Agency guidance? The way in which the test impacts tends to vary between offices. For example, in Stratford, two thirds of people fail the test; in Plaistow, only 8 per cent. do so. When people fail, they lose all benefit, which means that social services must pick up an enormous burden. On appeal, large numbers of people succeed in overturning the original decision, but in the meantime they have to suffer. May we please have some proper statistics on the way in which the test impacts in Newham, and further monitoring of the different ways in which it is applied by benefit offices?
§ Mr. EvansIt is not a cop-out. I can supply the hon. Gentleman with the detailed figures, but I will not weary the House with them—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] If the House wishes to be wearied, I shall start reading. For the most recently available date, the figure for those on income support is 33,000; for unemployment benefit before 7 October, it is 16,000; for housing benefit, 41,000; and for council tax benefit, 35,000. For many of the other benefits, information is not broken down on a borough basis.
Newham's particular problems with deprivation are recognised by the Government in the generosity of the standard spending assessment under the local government settlement. The hon. Gentleman said that the habitual residence test was applied inconsistently between benefit offices. If he cares to write to me with specific case details, I shall happily investigate the matter.
§ Mr. John MarshallMy hon. Friend has told us how many people receive benefit in Newham. How many more people in Newham would receive benefit if we were to sign up to the minimum wage and the social chapter, thereby adopting the job-destroying policy of the Opposition?
§ Mr. SpearingIs the Minister aware that an increasing number of people in Newham who previously received benefit because they were incapacitated are now, on a medical examination, found allegedly fit for work? Will he tell the House whether the recent changes in the rules were based on sound medical advice—and, if so, from whom—or whether there is some other motivation in the Government's mind?
§ Mr. EvansThe latest figures that I have show that 7,447 people in Newham receive incapacity benefit. My hon. Friend the Minister of State set out the position with the appeals process a moment ago.
112 On the all work test, the Government have always acted on expert medical advice.