HC Deb 29 October 1985 vol 84 cc435-8W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) 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 were assessed under the new benefit regulations and who were (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 and for England, Wales and Scotland, respectively;

(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 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 were assessed under the new benefit regulations and whose accommodation charge was (i) above and (ii) within the new upper limits; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, and for England, Wales and Scotland, respectively;

(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 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 were 25 years old or under and who were assessed under the new benefit regulations as a result of which their benefit: (i) was restricted at the outset and (ii) was not restricted at the outset; and if he will give this information for Great Britain, and for England, Wales and Scotland, respectively;

(4) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of (a) existing claimants and (b) claimants whose address 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 were assessed under the new benefit regulations and whose accommodation charge was (i) up to £5 above the upper limit, (ii) between £6 and £10 above the upper limit, (iii) between £11 and £20 above the upper limit, (iv) between £21 and £30 above the upper limit, (v) between £31 and £40 above the upper limit, (vi) between £41 and £50 above the upper limit and (vii) £51 or more above the upper limit; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, and for England, Wales and Scotland, respectively;

(5) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of (a) existing claimants and (b) claimants whose address 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 were 25 years old or under and were assessed under the new benefit regulations as a result of which their benefit (i) was restricted at the outset and (ii) was not restricted at the outset;

(6) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of claimants whose address 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 were assessed under the new benefit regulations and who were (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, and for England, Wales and Scotland, respectively;

(7) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of (a) existing claimants and (b) claimants whose address 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 were assessed under the new benefit regulations and whose accommodation charge was (i) above and (ii) within the new upper limit;

(8) what are the latest available figures for the period since 29 April for the number of (a) existing claimants and (b) claimants whose address 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 were 25 years old or under and who were assessed under the new benefit regulations as a result of which their benefit was restricted from the outset where (i) this restriction was lifted subsequently and (ii) this restriction was not lifted subsequently; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole and for England, Wales and Scotland, respectively.

(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 changed and new an repeat claimants of supplementary benefit, ordinary board and lodging allowance in the Aberystwyth local Department of Health and Social Security office area who were assessed under the new benefit regulations ans whose accommodation charge was (i) up to £5, (ii) between £6 and £10, iii) between £11 and £20, (iv) between £21 and £30, (v) between £31 and £40 and (vi) more than £41 above the new upper limit.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 21 October 1985, c. 47]: The analysis of statistical returns on boarders from DHSS local offices is not yet complete. These returns were among the arrangements made to monitor the effects of the changes in supplementary benefit board and lodging payments which were introduced in April. In addition, special surveys of younger boarders have been carried out in Scotland and the south-east, local DHSS staff from all regions were asked during September about their experience of the operation of the regulations, and a study by the social security policy inspectorate is in progress.

Full information on the results of monitoring will be made available as soon as possible. Preliminary information is as follows. Between April and July 1985, 126,000 supplementary benefit claims were made by boarders in ordinary board and lodging. Half these claimants were 25 or under. In addition, 6,000 people aged 25 or under were living in hostels and claiming as boarders. Overall, 28 per cent. of those aged 16–25 were exempt from the application of time limits on benefit at the boarder rate. Half the ordinary boarders aged 25 or under were paying amounts within the new financial limits.

Indications from DHSS local offices are that apart from resort areas, where people apparently returned home, most of those affected by time limits stayed in the same area and received benefit at the householder or non-householder rate. Local offices also report in general a continuing supply of accommodation within the new financial limits—in some cases at reduced prices.

A survey of 2,350 claimants under 26 in the south-east showed 20 per cent. were exempt from time limits. A further 35 per cent. remained in the same accommodation, mainly at the non-householder rate of benefit. 15 per cent. moved to other accommodation (less than 2 per cent. of these as boarders). 25 per cent. ceased to claim supplementary benefit altogether (some of them because their entitlement to unemployment benefit exceeded their entitlement to supplementary benefit). A smaller Scottish survey showed a roughly comparable picture and there are similar indications from other areas. Monitoring results so

England—Provision of Playgroups for Children Under Five
As at 31 March Number of Places Number of Children*
Local Authority Playgroups Registered Playgroups Other Playgroups Total On Register of Local Authority Playgroups Sponsored by Local Authorities in Registered Playgroups
1979 3,325 362,279 † † ║ 5,110
1980 2,865 365,003 † † 2,455 4,474
1981 3,199 364,778 † † 2,518 4,170
1982 2,669 ‡366,649 4,971 374,289 ‡2,715 5,182
1983 2,902 379,488 5,383 387,773 3,100 7,057
1984 2,692 384,523 6,625 393,840 2,968 9,132
* Data available centrally only for the two categories shown.
† not available.
‡ revised.
║ data available but not reliable.

far do not appear to substantiate suggestions of significant movement between board and lodging areas or of increased homelessness.

Of those claimants whom the early monitoring results show to have ceased to claim benefit, a significant number are thought to have obtained work.

Mr. Meacher

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 were assessed under the new benefit rules and who were (a) aged 26 years or over and (b) aged 25 years or under, whose accommodation charge was within the new upper limits and who were receiving a special addition to their benefit; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, and for England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.

Mr. Newton

None, as special additions are payable only to claimants whose accommodation charge exceeds the local limits.