HC Deb 26 October 1989 vol 158 cc539-42W
Mr. Loyden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will show the number of appeals against disqualification from unemployment benefit for all reasons(a) heard and decided (b) decided in claimants'

(2) Information relates to the number of applications received rather than to the number of individual young people involved. Some individuals may have applied more than once

Ms. Short

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by region, how many persons aged 16 and 17 years have made applications for income support on the ground of extreme hardship; how many had been granted at 8 September and 6 October; and how many at the same dates had been granted income support on the ground of being within exempted categories, shown by category.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The number of applications for income support from 16 and 17-year-olds on grounds of "severe hardship", and the number of directions given to enable benefit to be paid at 8 September and 6 October, are in the table.

The number of 16 and 17-year-olds granted income support because they fall within one of the exempted categories ceased to be collected after October 1988 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

favour, broken down for Great Britain, England, Wales and Scotland and by Department of Social Security region for the last four quarters.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The latest national administrative available on social security appeal heard in the quarter ending 31 March 1989.Information about the number of appeals against disqualification from unemployment benefit is not readily available in the form requested. The figures supplied in the table are based on the total number of unemployment benefit appeals for the quarters ending 30 June 1988, 30 September 1988, 31 December 1988 and 31 March 1989.

Social Security Appeal Tribunals Unemployment Benefit
Appeals heard and decided Appeals decided in favour of claimant
Quarter ending
30 Jun 88
Great Britain 5,754 2,010
England 4,475 1,519
Wales 367 159
Scotland 912 332
Region
North East 898 271
London North 828 293
London South 639 237
Midlands 643 209
North West 981 326
Wales/South West 853 342
Scotland 912 332
Quarter ending
30 September 1988
Great Britain 5,254 1,805

Appeals heard and decided Appeals decided in favour of claimant
England 4,113 1,400
Wales 358 130
Scotland 783 275
Region
North East 912 237
London North 557 198
London South 763 278
Midlands 670 234
North West 801 304
Wales/South West 768 279
Scotland 783 275

Social security Appeal Tribunals Unemployment Benefit
Appeals heard and decided Appeals decided in favour of claimant
Quarter ending 31 December 1988
Great Britain 4,732 1,754
England 3,613 1,297
Wales 284 141
Scotland 835 316
Region
North East 890 248
London North 594 234
London South 530 159
Midlands 489 183
North West 750 320
Wales/South West 644 294
Scotland 835 316
Quarter ending 31 March 1989
Great Britain 4,500 1,795
England 3,461 1,332
Wales 291 128
Scotland 748 335
Region
North East 901 257
London North 518 215
London South 505 196
Midlands 525 197
North West 643 304
Wales/South West 660 291
Scotland 748 335

Mr. Loyden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the number of claims referred to adjudication officers by employment service staff because they neglected to avail themselves of or refused suitable employment; and how many were disqualified from receiving benefit on grounds of neglecting to avail themselves of or refusing suitable employment for the whole year 1988 and to June of the current year.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The information requested is available in "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Annual and Quarterly Analyses of Decisions of Adjudication Officers", copies of which are in the Library.

Mr. Loyden

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the number of people referred to adjudication officers by employment service staff because of doubts about their availability for work; how many were disqualified from receiving benefit on the grounds of non-availability for the whole year of 1988 and to June of the current year; how many were so referred because of restrictions they placed on their availability; and how many were disqualified from receiving benefit on grounds of non-availability for work for the whole year 1988 and to June of the current year.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The information is not available in the precise form requested. Details of the number of decisions on claims to unemployment benefit given by adjudication officers relating to questions on availability are contained in "Unemployment Benefit Statistics—Annual and Quarterly Analyses of Decisions of Adjudication Officers", copies of which are held in the Library.