§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total spent on advertising of the disability living allowances and the disability working allowances(a) before their introduction and (b) in every month since then.
§ Mr. ScottThe total cost of advertising in the press and on television before the introduction of the new benefits in April was £3,044,909.
The latest figures for advertising month by month since then are in the table.
£ April Nil May Nil June 240,740 July Nil August Nil September 587 October 2,144
§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) when the chief executive of the Benefits Agency will reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford's letter concerning the delay in processing the disability living allowance claim of(a) R. Collumbell, (b) Ms. McVitie, (c) P. Morgan, (d) R. Edwards, (e) B. Siblon, (f) L. Heat and (g) S. Goodwin;
(2) when the chief executive of the Benefits Agency will reply to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford's letter concerning the delay in processing the disability living allowance claim of the people with NI numbers (a) SM290692B, (b) JE542286C, (c) WK555651A, (d) KB331945D, (e) JE466288A, (f) ZW558243D and (g) ZX002165B.
801W
§ Mr. ScottThe administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from M. Bichard to Ms. Joan Ruddock, dated 10 December 1992:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to the points raised in your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security concerning your correspondence about claims to Disability Living Allowance for R. Collumbell, Ms. McVitie, P. Morgan, R. Edwards, B. Siblon, L. Heat, S. Goodwin and those with NI numbers SM290692B, JE542286C, WK555651A, KB331945D, JE466288A, ZW558243D and ZX002165B.I am now in a position to confirm that adjudication officers have made decisions on all but one of the claims. The case outstanding is waiting for further evidence from the customer. I have already replied separately, and in greater detail, about each case.I offer my sincere apologies for any delay in dealing with the claims and also for the delay in replying to your correspondence. My letter of 19 October to all MPs set out the problems we have encountered since the successful launch of the new benefit and the positive steps taken to improve the situation.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report. Copies are also being placed in the Library.