§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest average length of time taken to process applications for(a) family credit, (b) income support and (c) housing benefit.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe latest available information is as follows:
Working days Family credit1 20.4 Income support1 6.4 Housing benefit2 — 1 Data derived from claims cleared during December 1990. 2 Precise data is not available in respect of housing benefit. Approximately three-quarters of all claims are dealt with within the statutory 14-day period.