§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications for(a) attendance allowance and (b) special hardship allowance are received daily at the Department of Health and Social Security centre at Norcross, Blackpool; what is the average processing time for each benefit; and how many applications for each benefit were waiting to be processed on the most recent date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. ScottSpecial hardship allowance was replaced by reduced earnings allowance in October 1986. Claims are dealt with by local offices. The information requested for attendance allowance is in the table.
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Attendance allowance: claims at attendance allowance unit, Norcross, Blackpool Claims received per day Claims awaiting decision (at 26 May 1988) Average processing lime (weeks) Initial 1,510 164,944 8.1 Renewal 240 10,108 8.0 Total 1,750 175,052 1 Includes 55,848 claims undergoing preliminary processing at Regional Offices.