§ Mr. Burtasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Social Security Inspectorate will complete its report on furniture grants for supplementary benefit claimants; and whether he will publish the report.
§ Dr. BoysonWe expect to receive the report of the social security policy inspectorate shortly and we will then take decisions about its publication.
§ Mr. Burtasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the total number of supplementary benefit claimants awarded furniture grants under single payments regulation 10(1)(a) over a recent 12 months period, broken down by the head of regulation 10(1)(a) in the period, and broken down into the average amount awarded under each of the heads.
§ Dr. BoysonThe information requested is not available. Data from the December 1982 annual statistical enquiry show that under all heads of Single Payments Regulation 10 some 500,000 grants had been made for essential furniture and household equipment over the previous 12 months with an average payment of £74.62. But because data on which this estimate is based relate only to claimants still in receipt of supplementary benefit 347W during one week in December 1982, and not to those who ceased to receive benefit before that week, this is an underestimate of the total number of such single payments in 1982.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list, for the two Departments of Health and Social Services offices in Coventry, over the last 12 months (a) the number of claims submitted for a furniture grant, (b) the number of successful claims, (c) the average payment made and (d) the average waiting time between application and payment.
§ Dr. BoysonThis information is not available.
§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the decision of the supplementary benefit commissioners, RSB8/84, about claimants applying for furniture grants and the availability of furnished accommodation.
§ Dr. BoysonThe decision by a recent tribunal of social security commissioners (R(SB)8/84) and the related guidance from the chief adjudication officer (a copy of which is in the Library) should help to ensure that the supplementary benefit regulations relating to payments for essential furniture and household equipment to claimants moving into unfurnished accommodation are applied fairly and consistently throughout the country. The basis for present policy in this area is set out in my replies to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 4 July column205 and to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Foster) on 8 May at column 374.
§ Mr. John Fraserasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applicants for furniture grants in Lambeth in the last 12 months have been refused grants on the grounds that suitable furnished accommodation is available.
§ Dr. BoysonThe information is not available.