§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of claims paid, the average length and total cost of income support paid to students in each region and in Great Britain during the summer vacation of 1989.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe information requested is in the table.
Region Number of claims Average length weeks Benefit cost £ North East 25,656 6.15 4,701,900 London North 12,503 4.97 2,125,366 Wales and South West 17,927 6.09 3,431,654 Midlands 21,593 5.91 3,729,968 North West 22,754 6.69 4,370,808 Scotland 26,560 7.34 4,824,092 London South 10,170 5.71 1,955,010 Totals 135,163 6 weeks 25,138,798
§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of claims paid, the average length, and total cost of housing benefit paid to students in each region and in Great Britain during the summer vacation of 1989.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardInformation is not available in the form requested. However, management information returns for May 1988 show that there were 78,000 housing benefit claims from students current at that time. The average amount of housing benefit in payment was £7.80.
§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of claims paid, the average length, and total cost of unemployment benefit paid to students in each region and in Great Britain during the summer vacation of 1989.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI regret that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.