§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total expenditure on energy for offices and buildings by(a) his Department 535W and (b) his agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. BurtThe available information is in the tables.
Year £ DSS Total 1991–92 14,213,000 1992–9293 15,600,000 1993–9294 16,121,000 Benefits Agency 1991–9292 10,799,109 1992–9293 11,788,296 1993–9294 10,412,815 Contributions Agency 1991–9292 2Not applicable 1992–9293 Not applicable 1993–9294 1,483,226 Information Technology Services Agency 1991–9292 2,901,788 1992–9293 3,126,456 1993–9294 3,094,726 Resettlement Agency 1991–9292 512,103 1992–9293 340,360 1993–9294 305,808 Child Support Agency 1993–9294 448,425 DSS (HQ) 1991–9292 1Not applicable 1992–9293 344,888 1993–9294 376,000 Notes: A number of the agencies which form the Department have not been in existence for three years. 1 In the year 1991–92 the DSS—HQ—was not responsible for payment of energy costs, therefore details are not held by the Department. 2 The Contributions Agency was not responsible for energy costs in the years 1991–92 and 1992–93.
Policy measure Benefit expenditure effect in 1996–97 £ million Benefit expenditure effect in 1997–98 £ million Relevant clause(s) in Jobseekers Bill Contributory entitlement six months -70 -180 Clause 5(1) No Adult Dependency Increases in contributory benefit -10 -20 Clause 4(1) and Schedule 2(20) Unified rates of benefit: effect on 18–24 year old claimants -20 -30 Clause 4(1) Treatment of income from occupational and personal pensions -10 -10 Clause 4(1) and Schedule 1(7) Waiting days in income-based JSA -40 -40 Schedule 1(4) Anti-fraud measures -10 -10 Clause 27 and 28 Benefit sanctions -10 -10 Clauses 15 and 16 Treatment of earnings: disregard £10 per week per couple; partners may work up to 24 hours +20 +20 Clauses 3(1), 4, 9 and 10 Net effect +140 -270 Notes:
1. Assumes 2.4 million unemployed; 500,000 unemployment benefit cases; inflow into claimant unemployment of 3.8 million.
2. All estimates rounded to nearest £10 million.
3. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
4. Estimates in cash prices.
5. Excludes measures related to back to work bonus and national insurance contribution rebate.
6. Benefit sanction estimates are net of hardship payments.
7. Estimates are net of any effects in other benefits.
8. Based on 1993 annual statistical inquiry, 1993 and 1994 unemployment benefit statistics, 1993–94 adjudication officer statistics and the policy simulation model using 1990–91–92 family expenditure data.
9. The estimated effects relating to adult dependency increases unified rates assume contributory entitlement lasts six months.
Benefit savings are also likely to arise from aligning the treatment of earnings for contributory claimants with that for income-based claimants. Further information is currently being collected to allow this to be assessed.