HC Deb 09 December 1991 vol 200 cc352-4W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total income of an unemployed person aged 18 to 24 years through income support and housing benefit would be if he had taken a room at £40 per week.

Miss Widdecombe

The income support applicable amount for a single person aged between 18 and 24 years who is not entitled to any premiums is £31.40. A person in receipt of income support is usually entitled to maximum housing benefit, that is, 100 per cent. of eligible rent. The overall benefit entitlement of such a person with housing costs of £40 would therefore be £71.40. This assumes a rent of £40 which is fully eligible for housing benefit and is not considered unreasonably expensive by the local authority.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what were the findings of his Department's research into 16 and 17-year-olds, and their benefits about the means they used to survive;

(2) if he will review his decision to withdraw benefits from 16 and 17-year-olds who are unable to obtain a youth training place to take account of the findings of the fifth report of the Select Committee on Employment, 1990–91, about training and enterprise councils and the youth training guarantee;

(3) what plans he has to review severe hardship applications following the large increase in applications between July 1990 and September 1991;

(4) what plans he has to change the rules regarding severe hardship payments in response to his Department's research into 16 and 17-year-olds and their benefits with particular reference to young pregnant women;

(5) what his Department's research into 16 and 17-year-olds and their benefits found about the incidence of physical or sexual abuse they had suffered;

(6) whether his proposal to make a specific assistant manager in each of his Department's district offices responsible for services to 16 and 17-year-olds has been implemented.

Mr. Jack

The vast majority of the 1.4 million young people between the age of 16 and 17 are able to exercise their positive choices by remaining in full-time education, getting a job, or entering youth training. However, the Government recognise that a minority need particular help. Income support is available at any time to particular groups such as lone parents, couples with children, carers, or those incapable of work through disablement. Pregnant young women are also automatically entitled to income support during the 11 weeks immediately prior to their expected date of confinement as well as at any time during their pregnancy if they are incapable of work or attending YT. However, pregnancy is not itself an incapacity and training and enterprise councils are expected to provide suitable training to meet the needs of this group.

Additionally, help is also available to young people seeking a YT place but who are at risk of severe hardship. Of the 1.4 million 16 and 17-year-olds, fewer than 5,000 are in receipt of income support under the severe hardship provision at any one time. When this policy was introduced the Government agreed to monitor its operation and as part of the exercise commissioned research from the MORI organisation. The findings were detailed in their report "A Survey of 16 and 17 year old applicants for Severe Hardship Payments" and a copy of this work was placed in the Library in July. The study comprehensively analysed all aspects of this policy.

Also in July I announced in response to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 16 July at columns 134–36 that the Benefits Agency would be taking a series of measures to make further improvements in the operation of the severe hardship provision, including the assignment of responsibility for 16 and 17-year-olds to a specific assistant manager in each district. Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, has informed me that all these changes have been put into effect. In addition the Benefits Agency is holding a series of conferences for the assistant managers concerned to share good practice and to encourage effective liaison with other agencies concerned, including the careers service, which was also represented. It is likely that these will generate further ideas for improvements in service to young people.

The Government remain committed to ensuring that the YT guarantee is met. A suitable youth training place remains the sensible and positive option for young people who have not had the opportunity of taking up a job. In the light of the foregoing, we have no plans to review the policy on 16 and 17-year-olds, although we continue to monitor the operation of the policy closely and seek administrative improvements wherever possible.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the entitlement to housing benefit of(a) a person aged 18 to 24 years with an income of £2,265 who had taken a room at £40 per week for accommodation and (b) a person in the same position with a debt of £580.

Miss Widdecombe

The housing benefit entitlement of a single person aged 18 to 24 years not entitled to any premiums, with an income of £2,265 and a rent liability of £40 would be £35.42. This calculation is based on the assumption that the income quoted is net earnings to which a disregard of £5 a week is appropriate. It also assumes that the amount of rent for which the person is liable is fully eligible for housing benefit and is not considered to be unreasonably expensive by the local authority. The benefit entitlement of a person in the same circumstances with a debt of £580 would be identical.

Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide details of the costs of administering the severe hardship payment scheme and the amount of severe hardship benefit paid out in the last year for which figures are available.

Mr. Jack

The information on these costs of income support paid to 16 and 17-year-olds under the severe hardship provisions is not separately identifiable.