§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest available figure for the number of ordinary board and lodging claimants who, as a result of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Provisions Regulations 1985, were paid at the non-householder rate or who would have been paid as non-householders but received unemployment benefit or had excess income: how many of these claimants have returned his Department's letter BL1 following the High Court decision in R v Secretary of State for Social Services ex parte Cotton; what is the latest available figure for the total amount of arrears paid to these claimants; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, for England, Scotland, Wales;
(2) what are the latest figures for the number of ordinary board and lodging claimants who, as a result of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Provisions Regulations 1985, were due to be restricted to the non-householder rate but continued to be paid as boarders as a result of the judgment in R v Secretary of State for Social Services ex parte Cotton; and if he will give this information for England, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain;
(3) what is the latest available figure for the number of ordinary board and lodging claimants who, as a result of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Provisions Regulations 1985 received four-week or eight-week transitional protection from restriction; what is the latest available figures for the total amount of arrears paid to these claimants following the High Court decision in R v Secretary of State for Social Services ex parte Cotton; and if he will give this information for England, Wales, Scotland and Great Britain as a whole;
(4) what are the latest figures for the number of ordinary board and lodging claimants who, as a result of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Provisions Regulations 1985, changed status following restriction to (i) householders and (ii) no fixed abode; and if he will give this information for England, Scotland, Wales and Great Britain.
§ Mr. NewtonWe do not collect national statistics on the numbers and details of all claimants who changed benefit status as a result of the 29 April board and lodging changes. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 29 October at columns439–442 for information on the proportion of claimants exempt from the application of the time limits and for the findings of special surveys.
Following the decision in the High Court in R v Secretary of State for Social Services ex parte Cotton, local offices were asked to keep statistical records relating to the number of claimants affected by the suspension of time limits, and the arrears of benefit paid. The analysis of these statistical returns is not yet complete. Separate information was not collected on the number of forms BL1 that were returned.
130W
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest available figure for the number of ordinary board and lodging claimants with dependent children under 18 years.
§ Mr. NewtonThe sample size precludes the provision of reliable estimates. However, it is probably less than 5,000.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the following information is collected: (a) the total annual number of ordinary board and lodgings claimants, (b) the annual average payment to ordinary board and lodging claimants and (c) the total annual cost of payments to ordinary board and lodging claimants.
§ Mr. NewtonEstimates of such caseloads, average payments and total expenditure are derived from the Department's regular statistical inquiries covering all social security offices.