§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit appeal tribunal hearings were held in the year up to November 1980; how many since that time; if he will break down the figures by Department of Health and Social Security regions; and how long it takes for the tribunal to be held from the date of the appeal.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that the information is not available in the form requested. The best comparison that can be drawn is between the calendar year 1980 and the first nine months of 1981 when the details were as follows:
441WThe average time between appeal and hearing has increased for several reasons. The major one is that instructions to tribunal clerks to give two weeks' notice of hearings to appellants—unless they or their representatives ask for an early hearing—have been strengthened. Previously one week's notice was the norm, and this led to complaints. Others are that local offices experienced difficulty in preparing appeal papers in the first months of the new scheme, that tribunals similarly experienced problems so that their case loads per session had to be reduced, and that industrial action in the Civil Service caused delays during the summer months.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons have been disqualified from receiving supplementary benefit because of the fact that the capital ceiling is set at £2,000.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 supplementary benefit recipients were removed from benefit on 24 November 1980 as a result of the introduction of the £2,000 capital cut-off. Some of these will have since become entitled to benefit again because of the reduction of their capital to £2,000 or less. No information is available on the numbers of claimants to benefit since 24 November 1980 who were not entitled because their capital exceeded £2,000.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single payments have been made for clothing since 24 November 1980; how much the average payment has been; and how this compares with the previous year's figures.
§ Mrs. ChalkerDetailed information on supplementary benefit single payments is obtained from the annual statistical inquiry—ASI—which is carried out each December. The results of the December 1981 ASI—covering the period from December 1980 to December 1981—will not be available until next summer. Because the single payments figures relate to claimants in receipt of benefit on a particular day, they will show only about two-thirds of the awards made throughout that year. Awards to claimants ceasing to receive benefit during the year will not be shown.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of those registered as unemployed are in receipt of supplementary benefit at the last count; and how this proportion compares with the figures for 12 months previously.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIn May 1981 the latest date for which information is available, 42.3 per cent. of those registered as unemployed were receiving supplementary benefit. The corresponding figure for May 1980 was 41.3 per cent.
Sources:
- (i) Supplementary benefit quarterly statistical inquiries.
- (ii) Department of Employment Gazette.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of those in receipt of supplementary benefit are registered unemployed persons at the latest count; and how this proportion compares with the position 12 months previously.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIn May 1981, the latest date for which information is available, 31.1 per cent. of supplementary beneficiaries were registered as unemployed. The corresponding figure for May 1980 was 20.8 per cent.
Sources: Supplementary benefit quarterly statistical inquiries Department of Employment Gazette.