HC Deb 11 February 1987 vol 110 cc269-70W
Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide figures for the number of people in the Burnley and Pendle constituencies dependent on social security benefits, broken down by category of benefit and age group.

Mr. Lyell

The constituencies of Burnley and Pendle are covered by the Department's local office at Burnley. The latest available information about recipients of various locally administered benefits is as follows:

Number
Sickness and Invalidity Benefit 6,402
Maternity Allowance 461
Severe Disablement Allowance (all above figures as on 13 January 87 750
Supplementary Benefit (as on 10 December 1986)
a. beneficiaries over pension age 5,958
b. beneficiaries under pension age who are unemployed 5,816
c. other beneficiaries under pension age 4,998

Housing benefit is administered by the local authority and the number of recipients in Burnley and Pendle borough council areas at autumn 1986 (the latest date for which estimates are available) was as follows:—

Burnley Pendle
Rent rebate recipients 5,060 4,070
Rent allowance recipients 1,780 1,900
Rate rebate recipients 10,765 12,670

Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the number of family income supplement recipients for each of the years 1979 to 1986 showing, in each case, the number of recipients estimated to be liable to income tax at the date of their previous claim.

Mr. Major

The information requested is shown in the table:

Total number of Family Income Supplement recipients and those estimated to be liable to income tax at the date of their claim.
Year at April Number of recipients Number who are liable for income tax
(thousands)
1979 80 65
1980 90 65
1981 105 75
1982 140 110
1983 190 150
1984 205 165
1985 205 145
1986 205 145

All figures have been rounded to the nearest 5,000.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting period for the processing of new supplementary benefit claims by his Department's Brighton offices; and if he will provide details of waiting times for each year since 1979 on a quarterly basis.

Mr. Lyell

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.