§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a breakdown of attendance allowance recipients as at 31 December 1981 by social security region and the rate per 1,000 population in each region.
§ Mr. RossiThe latest information is as follows:
Recipients at 30 September 1980 Social security region Number Rate* Northern 16,500 5.6 Yorkshire and Humberside 24,000 4.8 East Midlands and East Anglia 28,500 5.2 London North 21,500 4.1 London West 24,500 4.4 London South 35,000 5.7 South-Western 27,500 6.3 West-Midlands 25,500 4.9 North-Western (Manchester) 20,000 5.9 North-Western (Merseyside) 22,000 6.8 Wales 24,000 8.6 Scotland 25,500 4.9 * Per 1,000 population (estimated).
§ Mr. George Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give for each social security region the percentage of initial attendance allowance claims awarded and the percentage awarded on review.
§ Mr. RossiThe information is as follows:
Social security region Percentage of initial attendance allowance claims Awarded in 1981 Awarded on review in 1981 Northern 61.1 4.2 Yorkshire and Humberside 67.0 3.1 East Midlands and East Anglia 83.0 1.3 London North 78.0 2.0 London West 79.4 2.0 London South 80.5 2.0 South-Western 75.7 3.0 West-Midlands 79.0 2.1 North-Western (Manchester) 70.6 3.0 North-Western (Merseyside) 76.2 2.3 Wales 59.2 5.2 Scotland 61.2 5.3
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the attendance allowance unit at Norcross; if he will consider devolving the administration of the allowance to local offices; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiThe unit is responsible for the maintenance of records and payment of attendance allowance and I am satisfied with its efficiency at a time when there are increasing numbers of claims and severe constraints on Departmental staffing levels. I have no reason to think that devolution of the unit's work to local offices would be a cost-effective way of improving the administration of the benefit.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time for which people do not 382W receive their attendance allowance during the period of their review when the allowance is subsequently reinstated; if he will estimate the cost of continuing payment of the allowance in all cases until the review decision is reached; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiReviews take about 13 weeks, but I regret that information is not available to answer either part of the question.