§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been(a) the cost to date to the Benefits Agency of administering the habitual residence test to claimants for income support and (b) the cost to the Benefits Agency of preparing and presenting evidence for social security appeals tribunal hearings on the habitual residence test. [41032]
§ Mr. BurtThis is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Robin Corbett, dated 16 October 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what has been the cost to the Benefits Agency to date of administering the habitual residence test to claimants for Income Support (IS), and of preparing and presenting evidence at appeals tribunals on the test.The information is not available in the format requested. The cost of administering the habitual residence test in District Offices, including the preparation and presentation of appeals, for the period 1 August 1994 when it was introduced to 31 March 1996, the latest date for which figures are available, is as follows:
- 1.8.94–31.3.95: £2,558,256
- 1.4.95–31.3.96: £2,612,051
It is not possible to separate the cost of the work associated with the preparing and presenting of evidence at appeals tribunals. This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.I hope you find this information helpful.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the number of appeals heard after claimants have failed to meet the habitual residence test when applying for income support by tribunal centres by name, giving the numbers decided in the claimants' favour. [41033]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of claimants tested and the number refused income support under the habitual residence test in each office site serving the Birmingham, Erdington constituency grouped according to United Kingdom nationals, European Economic Area nationals, or other nationals, for 1995–96 and for that period of 1996–97 for which figures are available. [41031]
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of income support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Robin Corbett, dated 16 October 1996:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list the number of claimants tested and the number refused Income Support (IS) under the habitual residence test in each office site serving the Birmingham, Erdington constituency grouped according to United Kingdom nationals, EEA nationals, or other nationals for 1995–96 and for that period of 1996–97 for which figures are available.The information is not available in the format requested. This is because statistics are collected by Benefits Agency Districts and not by individual benefit offices. I have provided below the figures for Birmingham Tame Valley District, which covers the area of 1022W Birmingham Erdington, Birmingham Handsworth, Birmingham Perry Barr and Birmingham Washwood Heath. These figures are provisional and may be subject to amendment.
Tested Failed UK nationals 1995–96 876 98 April 1996 to August 1996 430 70 EEA nationals 1995–96 17 8 April 1996 to August 1996 7 5 Other nationals 1995–96 250 43 April 1996to August 1996 100 29 This statistical data is lodged monthly in the House of Commons Library.I hope you find this reply helpful.