§ 43. Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce measures to restore the 5 per cent. cut from sickness benefit and unemployment benefit which occurred in 1980 at the time when both benefits are brought into the income tax system.
§ Mr. RossiThe Government have made it clear that the 5 per cent. abatement of invalidity pension will be restored when that benefit is brought into tax. The restoration of the 5 per cent. abatement of the other short-term national insurance benefits—including sickness and unemployment benefit—will be considered when those benefits are brought into tax in the light of the economic and other circumstances at the time.
§ 49. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate his Department has made of the extra expenditure involved in the payment of social security benefits in Central Scotland as a result of the proposed closures of the tractor assembly line at British Leyland, Bathgate, Plessey's Bathgate, and Initial Garments Manufacturers, Livingstone.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe Department does not make estimates of the extra social security benefit expenditure resulting from individual closures. I regret that a special estimate of the social security expenditure involved in the closures named by the hon. Member could be made only at disproportionate cost.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to have available the results of the inquiry into the effects of the supplementary benefit capital rule; and if he will publish the results.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerThe report by the supplemenatary benefit policy inspectorate of its enquiry into the operation of the supplementary benefit capital rule has now been received and we are considering it, together with the many other views which have been expressed on this issue. We shall announce the Government's conclusions as soon as we can.
§ Mr Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Bolsover on 21 October 1981, Official Report, column 155, when he expects to make a statement on the provisions of the Social Security Act 1980 regarding the payment of supplementary benefit to students who leave school at Easter and the monitoring of summer term CSE examinations.
§ Mrs. ChalkerShortly.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many 16-year-old students who left school at Easter in 1980 and in 1981 claimed supplementary benefit.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that the information is not available.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the amount of supplementary benefit paid from May to September to a student who leaves school at Easter as compared with the figure for the same period prior to implementation of the Social Security Act 1980.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAn Easter school leaver is entitled to supplementary benefit from the Monday following Easter Monday. His or her entitlement for the period from May to September is the same as under the previous rules. The amount of benefit payable will depend on the claimant's individual circumstances.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost of supplementary benefit in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe figure is £2,858 million in the financial year 1980–81.
§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update table 15.2 of the Supplementary Benefits Commission annual report 1979.
§ Mrs. ChalkerTable 15.2 showing performance on supplementary benefit work (MIS) for the years 1979–80 and 1980–81 is as follows:
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Table 15.2 Performance on supplementary benefit work (MIS) Item of work 1979–80 1980–81 Non-caller claims Percentage of available work processed 80 77 LOI visits Percentage of available visits processed 72 72
Item of work 1979–80 1980–81 LOII visits Percentage of available visits processed 68 65 Review Assessments Percentage of available work processed 91 90 Accuracy Percentage of error found in payments checked 11.3 11.5
§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list (a) the number of applications for leave to appeal to the social security commissioners regarding supplementary benefit, (b) the number of applications for leave to appeal in supplementary benefit cases which were granted by the social security commissioners, (c) the number of appeals made subsequently to the commissioners, (d) the number of appeals heard so far by the social security commissioners and (e) the number of cases outstanding before the commissioners awaiting (i) leave to appeal or (ii) an appeal decision together with the average length of time they have been outstanding, broken down into cases taken by claimants or their representatives and cases taken by the benefit officer.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services following the statement made by the Under-Secretary on 3 December, Official Report, column 486, about looking further at the Government's proposals for three rates of supplementary benefit, what steps the Government have taken.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 17 December.