§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Barking in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; and what percentage change that represents;
710W(2) what was the percentage change in (a) staff handling supplementary benefit and (b) all staff at the local Department of Health and Social Security offices for the same period.
§ Mr. MajorBarking is covered by one of the Department's offices, Barking, but the office's boundary is not conterminous with the boundary of the constituency.
Comprehensive figures are not available before 1982–83 and information on the number of individuals who claimed supplementary benefit is not available in the form requested.
Information that is available for the office is as follows:
Number of new and repeat claims to supplementary benefit (including unsuccessful) Number 1982–83 14,620 1985–86 14,652 Percentage change +0.2
Number of people receiving supplementary benefit* Number 1982–83 16,918 1985–86 17,060 Percentage change +0.8
Percentage change in complement 1982–83—1985–86 Number Supplementary benefit staff +10.9 All staff -1.8 * Based on a 100 per cent. count of cases in action at February Direct comparisons between numbers of staff and claims are misleading as workloads vary considerably by type and duration of claim and the action that has to be taken. All these factors vary over time as a result of legislative, policy and procedural changes. Examples of such changes are the introduction of housing benefit and postal claim forms.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Leicester, West at local offices of his Department at Yeoman street, Leicester, and Lower Hill street, Leicester in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in staff handling (i) supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at those offices over the same period.
§ Mr. MajorComprehensive figures are not available before 1980–81 and information on the number of individuals who claimed supplementary benefit is not available in the form requested.
Information that is available is shown in the table. The Yeoman street and Lower Hill street offices cover a larger area than the Leicester, West constituency.
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1980–81 1985–86 Per cent. Change Number of new and repeat claims to supplementary benefit (including unsuccessful) Yeoman street 16,706 18,629 +11.5 Lower Hill street 12,585 11,913 -5.3
1980–81 1985–86 Per cent. Change Number of people receiving supplementary benefit* Yeoman street 11,049 16,264 +47.2 Lower Hill street 9,152 12,781 +39.7
Change in complement 1982–83—1985–86† Supplementary benefit staff yeoman street Lower Hill street 1980–81 98 76 1985–86 113 90 Percentage change +15.3 +18.4
All staff Yeoman street Lower Hill street 1980–81 200 159 1985–86 181 148 Percentage change +9.5 +6.9 * Based on a 100 per cent. count of cases in action at February. † In January 1981 Leicester, East area office and national insurance office combined to form Yeoman street. Direct comparisons between numbers of staff and claims are misleading as workloads vary considerably by type and duration of claim and the action that has to be taken. All these factors vary over time as a result of legislative, policy and procedural changes. Examples of such changes are the introduction of housing benefit and postal claim forms.
§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases have been instigated during the last 12 months under the Supplementary Benefit Act 1976, as amended, to recover supplementary benefit paid to a person seeking entry to the United Kingdom from the person undertaking to be responsible for maintenance and accommodation for a period of any leave granted; and how much money has been recovered.
§ Mr. MajorDepartmental statistics do not show the types of case in which action under Section 18 and 25 of the Act is instigated but, so far as I am aware, no such action has been taken in a case involving a sponsored immigrant.
§ Mr. Clayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the estimate of supplementary benefit take-up derived from the 1983 families with low income tables broken down into (a) pensioners, (b) non-pensioners, (c) sick and disabled, (d) unemployed and one-parent families, showing (i) the number entitled to supplementary benefit, (ii) the proportion receiving benefit, (iii) the number eligible but not receiving benefit, (iv) the estimated benefit unclaimed and (v) the average weekly amount unclaimed on the same basis as his answer of 30 November 1983, Official Report, column 532–6.
§ Mr. MajorI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 22 July 1986.
§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people claimed supplementary benefit at the (a) Parkgate, (b) Arndale and (c) Irene house offices of his Department in Wandsworth in 1985; and what were the comparable figures in 1979;
712W(2) what were the (a) total staff and (b) staff handling supplementary benefit at the (i) Parkgate road (ii) Arndale and (iii) Irene house offices of his Department in 1985: and what were the comparable figures in 1979.
§ Mr. MajorComprehensive figures are not available before 1982–83 and information on the number of individuals who claimed supplementary benefit is not available in the form requested.
The information that is available is as follows:
Number of new and repeat claims to supplementary benefit (including unsuccessful) 1982–83 1985–86 Parkgate Road 14,893 14,842 Arndale 13,016 10,729 Irene House 19,454 19,353 Number of people receiving supplementary benefit* Parkgate Road 12,673 14,040 Arndale 8,514 9,285 Irene House 12,378 13,111 * Based on a 100 per cent. count of cases in action at February. The change in complement for these offices 1982–83—1985–86 is as follows:
Supplementary benefit staff All staff 1982–83 1985–86 1982–83 1985–86 Parkgate Road 104 114 137 144 Arndale 80 75 139 117 Irene House 106 116 158 161 Direct comparisons between numbers of staff and claims are misleading as workloads vary considerably by type and duration of claim and the action that has to be taken. All these factors vary over time as a result of legislative policy and procedural changes. Examples of such changes are the introduction of housing benefit and postal claim forms.
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Hamilton constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; and what percentage change that represents;
(2) what was the percentage change in (a) staff handling supplementary benefit and (b) all staff at the Hamilton local office of his Department between 1979 and 1985.
§ Mr. MajorHamilton constituency is covered by one of the Department's offices, Hamilton, but the office's boundary is not conterminous with the boundary of the constituency.
Information on the number of individuals who claimed supplementary benefit is not available in the form requested.
The information that is available for the office is as follows:
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Number of new and repeat claims to supplementary benefit (inc. unsuccessful) Number 1979–80 14,665 1985–86 21,714 Percentage change +48.1
Number of people receiving supplementary benefit* Number 1979–80 2,443 1985–86 15,556 Percentage change +84.2 * Based on a 100 per cent. count of cases in action at February.
Percentage change in complement 1979–80—1985–86: Number Supplementary benefit staff +64.8 All staff +8.4 Direct comparisons between numbers of staff and claims are misleading as workloads vary considerably by type and duration of claim and the action that has to be taken. All these factors vary over time as a result of legislative, policy and procedural changes. Examples of such changes are the introduction of housing benefit and postal claim forms.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present number of persons in receipt of supplementary benefit in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency.
§ Mr. MajorThe constituency of Cumbernauld and Kilsyth is covered by the Department's office at Cumbernauld but their boundaries are not conterminous. The number of people receiving supplementary benefit from that office on 6 May 1986, the latest available figure, was 10,270.
Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Liverpool, Riverside constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local offices of his Department for that same period.
§ Mr. MajorLiverpool, Riverside is covered by three of the Department's offices, Liverpool (City), Bootle and Toxteth, but their boundaries are not conterminous with the boundary of the constituency.
Comprehensive figures are not available before 1982–83 and information on the number of individuals who claimed supplementary benefit is not available in the form requested.
Information that is available is as follows:
1982–83 1985–86 Percentage change Number of new and repeal claims to supplementary benefit (including unsuccessful) Bootle 14,782 12,252 -17.1 City 8,554 4,943 -42.2 Toxteth 9,981 12,164 + 21.9 Number of people receiving supplementary benefit* Bootle 11,967 13,577 +13 5 City 9,225 8,822 -4.4 Toxteth 10,289 14,878 +44.6 * Based on a 100 per cent, count of cases in action at February. The percentage change in complement for these offices 1982–83 to 1985–86 is as follows:
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Supplementary benefit staff All staff Bootle* +11.3 +21.4 City† +16.0 +23.8 Toxteth‡ -29.6 - 10.5 * In January 1983 30 posts were transferred to Kirkby ILO because of a boundary change. In 1983–84 two posts were transferred to Kirkby ILO following relocation of work in respect of Walton prison. † In 1984–85 nine posts were removed from the office following transfer of social security appeal tribunal work to the office of the president of the tribunal. ‡ In April 1983 14 posts were transferred to Toxteth ILO following boundary changes. Direct comparisons between numbers of staff and claims are misleading as workloads vary considerably by type and duration of claim and the action that has to be taken. All these factors vary over time as a result of legislative, policy and procedural changes. Examples of such changes are the introduction of housing benefit and postal claim forms.
§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list what are included within the normal requirements subsumed within the supplementary benefit rate for a child aged (a) 16 to 17 years, (b) 11 to 15 years and (c) 0–10 years; how the supplementary benefit rates for dependent children cover these needs; and if he will make a statement.