HL Deb 05 July 1993 vol 547 cc43-4WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of the 4,004 young people mentioned by Viscount Goschen (HL Deb., 23rd June 1993, col. 425) received Severe Hardship Payments of Income Support while waiting to take up Youth Training Places.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley)

The requested information on severe hardship claims to income support could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, whilst 4,004 young people in England were waiting for a YT place for more than eight weeks in May, in Great Britain, 2,865 (Note—Does not include those who had claimed Income Support earlier than May whose claims were still in payment and those who claimed Income Support later than registering for Youth Training and whose claims had not yet been renewed.) claims to income support under the Severe Hardship provisions were renewed. Renewal is usually at the eight-week stage.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What monitoring Viscount Goschen referred to (HL Deb., 23rd June 1993, col. 426) when he said that "our monitoring shows that this provision of Severe Hardship Payments is working effectively", and whether they will explain the academic methods by which it is conducted.

Lord Henley

Monitoring is conducted in a number of ways: through the computerised production of detailed monthly statistics on severe hardship applications to Severe Hardship Claims Unit; feedback from Benefits Agency offices; representations made by and on behalf of 16 and 17 year-olds; and liaison and meetings with voluntary organisations and other government departments and agencies.

Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they know what percentage of the 26,000 people said to be waiting for a Youth Training place last May received Severe Hardship Payments during their period of waiting.

Lord Henley

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, all those who are waiting for a Youth Training place and who are at risk of severe hardship can receive help under the severe hardship provision. In May, 10,101 successful applications were made.