Housing Benefit (Hansard, 19 November 1992)

§ Mr. Raynsford
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of(a) the annual cost or saving, (b) the numbers of gainers or losers, (c) the
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The tariff income rule is kept under review, but we have no plans for change at present.

§ Mr. Dewar
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a regional breakdown of the total budget of his Department for each of the past five years; and if he will give a regional breakdown of expenditure on each benefit for which his Department is responsible for each of the past five years, in cash and real terms.

§ Mr. Scott
[holding answer 9 November 1992]: The information is not available in the form requested. However, the following table, which appears in "Regional Trends", presents an estimate of the regional breakdown of expenditure in respect of some major benefits. The table is for 1989–90, the most recent year available.
average amounts of weekly gains or losses and (d) the maximum amounts of weekly gains and losses in individual cases, which would result from adjustments of the housing benefit taper from 65 per cent. to (i) 50 per cent., (ii) 55 per cent., (iii) 60 per cent., (iv) 70 per cent., (v) 75 per cent. and (vi) 80 per cent.
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§ Mr. Burt
The information requested for(a), (b) and (c) is shown in the table.

HB taper (per cent.) Annual Cost £ million Annual Saving £ million Number of gainers (000s) Number of losers (000s) Average weekly amount of gain £ Average weekly amount of loss £

50 340 — 1625 — 4.00 —

55 210 — 1555 — 2.60 —

60 100 — 1505 — 1.30 —

70 — 90 — 1465 — 1.20

75 — 165 — 1465 — 2.20

80 — 240 — 1475 — 3.10

Figures have been provided from data from the 1987–88–89 family expenditure surveys and are modeled at 1992–93 prices. These figures are rounded
Figures for (d) could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Dewar
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were in receipt of each benefit for which his Department is responsible in each region of the United Kingdom for each of the past five years.

§ Mr. Scott
[holding answer 9 November 1992]: The available information on numbers of recipients by region is set out in the tables.

Income Support Recipients of Income Support for the last three years by DSS regions

Region May 1989 May 1990 May 1991

Great Britain 4,161,000 4,180,000 4,487,000

North Eastern 684,000 674,000 688,000

London North 607,000 638,000 735,000

Family Credit Recipients of Family Credit for the last five years by DSS Region

30 April 1988 30 April 1989 30 April 1990 30 April 1991 30 April 1992

Region

Midlands 45 51 57 64 73

Northern 41 51 56 61 70

London North 25 29 35 39 44

Wales and South West 40 43 47 49 55

North Western 42 51 53 58 64

Scotland 30 35 37 41 46

London South 20 25 28 30 37

Great Britain 243 286 314 342 389

Note: All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

Average number of Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit¹ cases in Great Britain by standard region

1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92

Region Housing Benefit Community Charge Benefit Housing Benefit Community Charge Benefit Housing Benefit Community Charge Benefit Housing Community Community Charge Benefit

South East 696,000 — 683,700 — 490,400 929,000 530,300 891,000

London 670,400 — 656,000 — 545,000 724,400 602,100 732,700

North 385,200 — 377,900 — 296,600 504,200 296,800 446,500

Wales 285,100 — 281,800 — 203,900 383,700 209,700 324,600

Scotland 694,100 — 556,300 850,300 542,200 590,600 542,500 640,300

Yorkshire and Humberside 529,200 — 519,000 — 387,800 664,500 397,900 635,100

East Midlands 294,400 — 287,200 — 211,400 430,300 214,800 392,000

East Anglia 197,800 — 192,000 — 142,200 279,000 150,900 257,700

South West 348,700 — 345,400 — 247,600 477,100 265,800 453,400

West Midlands 539,000 — 520,400 — 369,100 687,800 384,900 691,000

North West 733,900 — 725,900 — 514,400 960,300 524,000 875,500

Total 5,373,900 — 5,145,700 850,300 3,950,700 6,730,900 4,119,600 6,339,700

¹ Community Charge was first introduced in Scotland in April 1989 and extended to the rest of Great Britain in April 1990.

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Region May 1989 May 1990 May 1991

South Western 268,000 274,000 310,000

Wales 246,000 248,000 257,000

Midlands 668,000 665,000 699,000

North Western 662,000 643,000 669,000

Scotland 486,000 481,000 487,000

London South 540,000 558,000 641,000

Source:
Income Support Statistics Annual Inquiries, May 1989–91.
Caveat:
All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand, hence they may not sum to the totals given.
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Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Pensions¹ or Pensions in lieu of gratuities current at the end of the Statistical Year for the last five years²

Region 31 March 1991 31 March 1990 1 April 1989 2 April 1988 4 April 1987

Great Britain 192,000 191,000 185,000 183,000 183,000

Scotland 17,000 17,000 17,000 16,000 16,000

Wales 19,000 19,000 17,000 16,000 19,000

England 152,000 151,000 148,000 147,000 143,000

Northern 22,000 22,000 22,000 21,000 21,000

Yorkshire and Humberside 19,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000

East Midlands 14,000 14,000 13,000 12,000 12,000

East Anglia 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000

South East 35,000 35,000 34,000 33,000 33,000

South Western 12,000 11,000 10,000 10,000 10,000

West Midlands 18,000 18,000 18,000 18,000 18,000

North Western 26,000 26,000 27,000 27,000 25,000

Overseas 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000

¹ Please note that it is possible for an IIDB beneficiary to have more than one pension in payment.

² Figures do not take account of late awards notified.

Source: Annual 10 per cent. sample. Table figures uprated.

Invalidity Benefit The number of Invalidity Benefit Beneficiaries for the last five years by Standard Statistical Region (The Statistics given are at a point in time)

Region 30 March 1991 31 March 1990 1 April 1989 2 April 1988 4 April 1987

Great Britain 1,306,000 1,208,900 1,126,000 1,047,500 967,900

Scotland 181,400 169,300 157,900 146,900 135,200

Wales 146,600 137,500 131,800 126,900 122,000

England 970,600 895,500 829,100 766,600 704,000

Northern 126,300 116,900 110,000 102,700 96,600

Yorkshire and Humberside 124,500 118,400 107,500 98,000 89,100

East Midlands 74,200 66,200 61,000 55,700 50,400

East Anglia 28,800 26,300 23,600 20,700 19,300

South East 219,200 204,600 192,000 179,200 163,700

South Western 71,900 66,100 60,200 57,400 53,400

West Midlands 105,900 97,300 90,300 85,400 76,200

North Western 219,800 199,700 184,500 167,500 155,300

Overseas 7,400 6,600 7,200 7,100 6,700

Source: Annual 1 per cent. sample of claims to benefit.
[Table figures updated].

Sickness Benefit The number of Sickness Benefit Beneficiaries for the last five years by Standard Statistical Region (The Statistics given are at a point in time)

Region 30 March 1991 31 March 1990 1 April 1989 2 April 1988 4 April 1987

Great Britain 109,600 103,400 109,200 117,500 109,600

Scotland 14,800 13,300 12,900 15,800 15,400

Wales 11,700 10,300 8,900 9,600 9,500

England 83,000 79,600 87,300 92,100 84,700

Northern 9,000 9,800 9,500 9,700 10,700

Yorkshire and Humberside 11,700 10,100 11,600 12,500 10,500

East Midlands 5,900 7,200 7,500 8,800 6,200

East Anglia 3,000 2,200 2,800 3,300 2,900

South East 20,000 17,600 20,700 22,900 21,200

South Western 5,500 6,500 6,200 6,500 6,000

West Midlands 8,700 8,900 10,400 9,200 9,900

North Western 19,200 17,300 18,600 19,200 17,300

Overseas 100 200 100 Nil Nil

Source: Annual 1 per cent. sample of claims to benefit. [Table figures uprated].

Severe Disablement Allowance The number of Severe Disablement Allowance Beneficiaries for the last five years by Standard Statistical Region (The Statistics given are at a point in time)

Region 30 March 1991 31 March 1990 1 April 1989 2 April 1988 4 April 1987

Great Britain 293,300 284,600 274,500 263,200 260,100

Scotland 33,900 33,600 32,600 32,300 31,700

Wales 21,900 22,100 20,900 19,800 18,800

England 237,300 228,700 220,900 211,000 209,500

Northern 19,200 19,500 18,400 18,200 17,700

Yorkshire and Humberside 28,800 27,000 26,800 25,200 24,900

East Midlands 19,800 18,600 18,000 17,100 16,100

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Region 30 March 1991 31 March 1990 1 April 1989 2 April 1988 4 April 1987

East Anglia 9,000 8,900 8,400 7,500 7,300

South East 69,000 66,800 65,100 63,600 64,500

South Western 24,100 23,400 22,900 21,900 22,300

West Midlands 24,000 23,600 21,600 20,600 20,000

North Western 43,400 40,900 39,700 36,900 36,700

Overseas 200 200 100 100 100

Source: Annual 1 per cent. sample of claims to benefit [Table figures uprated].

Unemployment Benefit Number of unemployed claimants in Great Britain in receipt of Unemployment Benefit at May of each year by Standard Statistical Region

Thousands

Region 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

Great Britain 636 378 299 555 669

South East 135 74 69 160 210

East Anglia 18 9 9 19 23

South West 45 25 19 43 53

West Midlands 59 32 27 59 75

East Midlands 44 26 22 39 47

Yorkshire and Humberside 69 41 31 55 58

North West 86 55 40 57 77

North 55 37 24 36 38

Wales 39 24 17 28 28

Scotland 86 56 40 52 58

Source: Quarterly Analysis of Unemployed Claimants.
Sample size: 100 per cent.
Due to rounding, component parts may not sum to totals.

HB taper (per cent.)	Annual Cost £ million	Annual Saving £ million	Number of gainers (000s)	Number of losers (000s)	Average weekly amount of gain £	Average weekly amount of loss £
50	340	—	1625	—	4.00	—
55	210	—	1555	—	2.60	—
60	100	—	1505	—	1.30	—
70	—	90	—	1465	—	1.20
75	—	165	—	1465	—	2.20
80	—	240	—	1475	—	3.10

Income Support Recipients of Income Support for the last three years by DSS regions
Region	May 1989	May 1990	May 1991
Great Britain	4,161,000	4,180,000	4,487,000
North Eastern	684,000	674,000	688,000
London North	607,000	638,000	735,000

Family Credit Recipients of Family Credit for the last five years by DSS Region
	30 April 1988	30 April 1989	30 April 1990	30 April 1991	30 April 1992
Region
Midlands	45	51	57	64	73
Northern	41	51	56	61	70
London North	25	29	35	39	44
Wales and South West	40	43	47	49	55
North Western	42	51	53	58	64
Scotland	30	35	37	41	46
London South	20	25	28	30	37
Great Britain	243	286	314	342	389

Average number of Housing Benefit and Community Charge Benefit¹ cases in Great Britain by standard region
	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92
Region	Housing Benefit	Community Charge Benefit	Housing Benefit	Community Charge Benefit	Housing Benefit	Community Charge Benefit	Housing Community	Community Charge Benefit
South East	696,000	—	683,700	—	490,400	929,000	530,300	891,000
London	670,400	—	656,000	—	545,000	724,400	602,100	732,700
North	385,200	—	377,900	—	296,600	504,200	296,800	446,500
Wales	285,100	—	281,800	—	203,900	383,700	209,700	324,600
Scotland	694,100	—	556,300	850,300	542,200	590,600	542,500	640,300
Yorkshire and Humberside	529,200	—	519,000	—	387,800	664,500	397,900	635,100
East Midlands	294,400	—	287,200	—	211,400	430,300	214,800	392,000
East Anglia	197,800	—	192,000	—	142,200	279,000	150,900	257,700
South West	348,700	—	345,400	—	247,600	477,100	265,800	453,400
West Midlands	539,000	—	520,400	—	369,100	687,800	384,900	691,000
North West	733,900	—	725,900	—	514,400	960,300	524,000	875,500
Total	5,373,900	—	5,145,700	850,300	3,950,700	6,730,900	4,119,600	6,339,700
¹ Community Charge was first introduced in Scotland in April 1989 and extended to the rest of Great Britain in April 1990.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Pensions¹ or Pensions in lieu of gratuities current at the end of the Statistical Year for the last five years²
Region	31 March 1991	31 March 1990	1 April 1989	2 April 1988	4 April 1987
Great Britain	192,000	191,000	185,000	183,000	183,000
Scotland	17,000	17,000	17,000	16,000	16,000
Wales	19,000	19,000	17,000	16,000	19,000
England	152,000	151,000	148,000	147,000	143,000
Northern	22,000	22,000	22,000	21,000	21,000
Yorkshire and Humberside	19,000	20,000	20,000	20,000	20,000
East Midlands	14,000	14,000	13,000	12,000	12,000
East Anglia	5,000	5,000	5,000	5,000	5,000
South East	35,000	35,000	34,000	33,000	33,000
South Western	12,000	11,000	10,000	10,000	10,000
West Midlands	18,000	18,000	18,000	18,000	18,000
North Western	26,000	26,000	27,000	27,000	25,000
Overseas	4,000	4,000	4,000	4,000	4,000
¹ Please note that it is possible for an IIDB beneficiary to have more than one pension in payment.
² Figures do not take account of late awards notified.

Invalidity Benefit The number of Invalidity Benefit Beneficiaries for the last five years by Standard Statistical Region (The Statistics given are at a point in time)
Region	30 March 1991	31 March 1990	1 April 1989	2 April 1988	4 April 1987
Great Britain	1,306,000	1,208,900	1,126,000	1,047,500	967,900
Scotland	181,400	169,300	157,900	146,900	135,200
Wales	146,600	137,500	131,800	126,900	122,000
England	970,600	895,500	829,100	766,600	704,000
Northern	126,300	116,900	110,000	102,700	96,600
Yorkshire and Humberside	124,500	118,400	107,500	98,000	89,100
East Midlands	74,200	66,200	61,000	55,700	50,400
East Anglia	28,800	26,300	23,600	20,700	19,300
South East	219,200	204,600	192,000	179,200	163,700
South Western	71,900	66,100	60,200	57,400	53,400
West Midlands	105,900	97,300	90,300	85,400	76,200
North Western	219,800	199,700	184,500	167,500	155,300
Overseas	7,400	6,600	7,200	7,100	6,700

Sickness Benefit The number of Sickness Benefit Beneficiaries for the last five years by Standard Statistical Region (The Statistics given are at a point in time)
Region	30 March 1991	31 March 1990	1 April 1989	2 April 1988	4 April 1987
Great Britain	109,600	103,400	109,200	117,500	109,600
Scotland	14,800	13,300	12,900	15,800	15,400
Wales	11,700	10,300	8,900	9,600	9,500
England	83,000	79,600	87,300	92,100	84,700
Northern	9,000	9,800	9,500	9,700	10,700
Yorkshire and Humberside	11,700	10,100	11,600	12,500	10,500
East Midlands	5,900	7,200	7,500	8,800	6,200
East Anglia	3,000	2,200	2,800	3,300	2,900
South East	20,000	17,600	20,700	22,900	21,200
South Western	5,500	6,500	6,200	6,500	6,000
West Midlands	8,700	8,900	10,400	9,200	9,900
North Western	19,200	17,300	18,600	19,200	17,300
Overseas	100	200	100	Nil	Nil

Severe Disablement Allowance The number of Severe Disablement Allowance Beneficiaries for the last five years by Standard Statistical Region (The Statistics given are at a point in time)
Region	30 March 1991	31 March 1990	1 April 1989	2 April 1988	4 April 1987
Great Britain	293,300	284,600	274,500	263,200	260,100
Scotland	33,900	33,600	32,600	32,300	31,700
Wales	21,900	22,100	20,900	19,800	18,800
England	237,300	228,700	220,900	211,000	209,500
Northern	19,200	19,500	18,400	18,200	17,700
Yorkshire and Humberside	28,800	27,000	26,800	25,200	24,900
East Midlands	19,800	18,600	18,000	17,100	16,100

Unemployment Benefit Number of unemployed claimants in Great Britain in receipt of Unemployment Benefit at May of each year by Standard Statistical Region
Thousands
Region	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992
Great Britain	636	378	299	555	669
South East	135	74	69	160	210
East Anglia	18	9	9	19	23
South West	45	25	19	43	53
West Midlands	59	32	27	59	75
East Midlands	44	26	22	39	47
Yorkshire and Humberside	69	41	31	55	58
North West	86	55	40	57	77
North	55	37	24	36	38
Wales	39	24	17	28	28
Scotland	86	56	40	52	58