HC Deb 09 July 1985 vol 82 cc371-4W
Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from representatives of local government in London concerning the operation of the new supplementary benefit regulations in respect of board and lodging charges for those under 25 years of age; and what reply he has sent.

Mr. Whitney

We have received a number of representations of a general nature from local government representatives and bodies in London. We have also received two letters from the housing department in the London borough of Newham. Both letters concern an individual affected by the restrictions on payment as a boarder. The local office has been asked for a full report on these cases and a reply will be sent shortly.

Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of (a) existing claimants and (b) claimants whose address has changed and new and repeat claimants of supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance, excluding those living in residential care homes, nursing homes and hostels, who have been assessed under the new benefit regulations and whose accommodation charge is (a) up to £5 above the upper limit, (b) between £6 and £10 above the upper limit, (c) between £11 and £20 above the upper limit, (d) between £21 and £30 above the upper limit, (e) between £31 and £40 above the upper limit, (f) between £41 and £50 above the upper limit and (g) £51 or more above the upper limit; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, for England, Wales and Scotland;

(2) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of (a) existing claimants and (b) claimants whose address has changed and new and repeat claimants of supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance, excluding those living in residential care homes, nursing homes and hostels, who are 25 years old or under and who have been assessed under the new benefit regulations as a result of which their benefit (a) has been restricted at the outset and (b) has not been restricted at the outset; and if he will give this information for Great Britain, for England, Wales and Scotland;

(3) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of (a) existing claimants and (b) claimants whose address has changed and new and repeat claimants of supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance, excluding those living in hostels, residential care homes and nursing homes, who have been assessed under the new benefit regulations and whose accommodation charge is (a) above and (b) within the new upper limits; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, for England, Wales and Scotland;

(4) what are the latest available figures since 29 April for the number of existing claimants of supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance, excluding those living in residential care homes, nursing homes and hostels, who have been assessed under the new benefit regulations and who are (a) aged between 16 and 17 years, (b) aged between 18 and 20 years, (c) aged between 21 and 25 years, (d) aged between 26 years and pension age and (e) pensioners; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, for England, Wales and Scotland;

(5) what are the latest available figures since 29 April for the number of claimants whose address has changed and new and repeat claimants of supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance, excluding those living in residential care homes, nursing homes and hostels, who have been assessed under the new benefit regulations and who are (a) aged between 16 and 17 years, (b) aged between 18 and 20 years, (c) aged between 21 and 25 years, (d) aged between 26 years and pension age and (e) pensioners; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, for England, Wales and Scotland;

(6) what information was used to determine the weekly upper limits for ordinary board and lodging claims by couples without dependent children under the age of 11 years provided under the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Provisions Regulations 1985;

(7) what are the latest available figures since 29 April for the number of (a) existing claimants and (b) claimants whose address has changed and new and repeat claimants of supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance, excluding those living in residential care homes, nursing homes and hostels, who are 25 years old or under and who have been assessed under the new benefit regulations as a result of which their benefit has been restricted from the outset where (i) this restriction has been lifted subsequently and (ii) this restriction has not been lifted subsequently; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, for England, Wales and Scotland;

(8) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of (i) existing claimants and (ii) claimants whose address has changed and new and repeat claimants of supplementary benefit, ordinary board and lodging allowance in the Aberystwyth local Department of Health and Social Security office area who have been assessed under the new benefit regulations and whose accommodation charge is (a) up to £5, (b) between £6 and £10, (c) between £11 and £20, (d) between £21 and £30, (e) between £31 and £40 and (f) more than £41 above the new upper limit;

(9) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of (a) existing claimants and (b) claimants whose address has changed and new and repeat claimants of supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance, excluding those living in hostels, residential care homes and nursing homes, in the Brighton local Department of Health and Social Security office area who have been assessed under the new benefit regulations and whose accommodation charge is (i) above and (ii) within the new upper limits;

(10) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of (a) existing claimants and (b) claimants whose address has changed and new and repeat claimants of supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance, excluding those living in hostel, residential care home or nursing home accommodation, in the Taunton local Department of Health and Social Security office area who are 25 years old or under and have been assessed under the new benefit regulations as a result of which their benefit (i) has been restricted at the outset and (ii) has not been restricted at the outset.

Mr. Newton

I regret that the analyses of ordinary board and lodging in all local offices including Aberystwyth, Brighton and Taunton, following the 29 April changes have not yet been completed.

Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he has made to monitor the effects of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Miscellaneous Provisions Regulations 1985 in relation to people claiming supplementary benefit, ordinary board and lodging allowance (a) by sex and (b) by ethnic group of claimant.

Mr. Newton

There are no specific plans to monitor separately the sex or ethnic group of people claiming supplementary benefit for ordinary board and lodging following the 29 April 1985 changes.

Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest available figures since 29 April for the number of claimants of supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance, excluding those living in hostels, residential care homes and nursing homes, who have been assessed under the new benefit rules and who are (a) aged 26 years or over and (b) aged 25 years or under whose accommodation charge is within the new upper limit and who are receiving a special addition to their benefit; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, for England, Scotland and Wales.

Mr. Newton

This information is not being collected as part of the initial statistical monitoring of claims assessed under the new rules introduced from 29 April 1985.

Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he intends to use his power to create exemption categories from the restrictions on young people for supplementary benefit in board and lodging to exempt (a) young people aged over 18 years who have no parents, (b) young people who have no parents in the United Kingdom because their parents have returned to their country of origin or are service people abroad, (c) young people who have been in care but not in the past year and (d) young people who need to remain in the area where they are now staying in order to have access to a child living with a separated partner.

Mr. Newton

We are considering if there is a need for the extensive list of exemptions to be increased further, in the light of representations and information from local offices.