§ 11. Mrs. Jane KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many telephone lines are available to people claiming disability living allowance at the Blackpool office of his Department.
§ Mr. ScottOne hundred and twenty telephone lines are operated by the central inquiry handling service. These are dedicated to inquiries about disability living allowance and the lines are now open from 8 am to 5.30 pm. The benefits inquiry line which is open seven days a week has 29 lines plus a commercial back-up and call-back service. The main switchboard at Blackpool has 149 lines.
§ 28. Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many telephone lines are connected to the disability living allowance office in Blackpool.
§ Mr. ScottThe main switchboard at Blackpool has 149 lines. There are also 120 telephone lines, with links to Blackpool, operated by the central inquiry handling service which is dedicated exclusively to enquiries about disability living allowance. A freephone benefits inquiry line with 29 lines is also available.
§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants for disability living allowance have received the benefit since January 1992; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottThe latest available information is that about 81,000 awards of disability living allowance had been made by 30 June 1992. This figure is for new claims and "top up" claims, including claims made on the ground of terminal illness.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on the current situation governing arrangements for processing claims for disability living allowance;
(2) what is the average time for dealing with new claims for disability living allowance; how many claims are currently being processed; how many are waiting to be processed; and how long he estimates it will take for the current claims to be cleared.
§ 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 copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will consider allowing existing levels of benefit to continue to be paid pending disability living allowance being granted.
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§ Mr. ScottExisting levels of benefit can continue to be paid pending disability living allowance being granted. For old attendance allowance and mobility allowance cases with expired awards, priority measures have been taken by the Benefits Agency to ensure they are dealt with as quickly as possible and interim awards ma de if necessary.