§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications under paragraph 7 of schedule 9 of the Claims and Payments Regulations 1987, for direct payments to water companies have been made to each regional DSS office; how many have been turned down; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtRegions were replaced by territories in April 1990. The information requested in respect of each of the Benefits Agency's three territories for the year ending October 1992 is given in the table.
72W
Scotland and North Territory1 Wales and Central England Territory Southern Territory Number of applications made 31,500 75,000 47,000 Number of applications rejected 5,000 12,000 9,500 1 Figures refer to North Territory only as different arrangements for payment of water charges apply in Scotland.
Note: The figures used are based on Management Information Statistics collected by the Benefits Agency in the 12 months period ending October 1992. These figures, which have been rounded to the nearest 500, are provisional and may be subject to amendment.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 70, what plans he has to extend the system of direct payments to water companies by DSS offices for claimants.
§ Mr. BurtWe have no plans to extend the current arrangements by which direct payments of income support are made to water companies.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 30 November,Official Report column 70, if he will list those DSS offices which currently (a) make and (b) do not make direct payments for benefit claimants to water companies; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtAll of the Benefit Agency's district offices in England and Wales are currently making direct payment to water companies on behalf of those meeting the criteria in paragraph 7 of schedule 9 of the Claims and Payments Regulations 1987.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 30 November,Official Report, column 70, if he will list for each DSS regional office the number of people meeting the criteria in paragraph 7 of schedule 9 of the Claims and Payments Regulations 1987, who have direct payments made to the water companies by the DSS.
§ Mr. BurtThe latest information showing the total number of income support recipients with a deduction for water charges in each of the Benefits Agency's three territories at the end of August 1992 is as follows:
Number Scotland and North Territory 28,000 Wales and Central England Territory 80,500 Southern Territory 38,000 Note: The figures used are based on Management Information Statistics collected by the Benefits Agency for the quarter ended August 1992. These figures, which have been rounded to the nearest 500, are provisional and may be subject to amendment.