§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his current estimate of eligible households in(a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland which do not claim family credit; what means are used to improve the take-up rate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtThere have been family credit (FC) advertising campaigns every year since 1989 which have stimulated claims and increased awareness. As a result, the number of people receiving FC has increased from 280,000 in 1989 to around half a million now. The 1993 campaign has involved a major "Back to work" initiative aimed at the unemployed, with FC advertising on television and in the press playing an important part. In addition, the FC helpline was launched in April this year, fulfilling our manifesto pledge. It now receives over 30,000 calls a week.
An important aspect of FC awareness is the personalised message in the child benefit order book (or notification of ACT payment), which tells the family concerned how much earnings they can have and still be eligible for FC. We have also set special fast track procedures for people just starting work which enables the vast majority of urgent claims to FC to be cleared, and 720W payment issued, within one week. And from October 1993, FC awards of £4 a week or less have been paid as a lump sum at the start of the award period. This provides one-off payments of up to £104, encouraging more people to claim and helping with back to work expenses.
The administration of family credit is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with details of the number of FC recipients in Inverclyde, Strathclyde and Scotland.
Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Dr. Norman Godman, dated 1 December 1993:
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to write to you with details of Family Credit recipients in (a) Inverclyde, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Scotland.I should explain that take-up figures for Family Credit (FC) are not available on a regional basis. However, the latest Policy Study Institute figures (1991) for the take-up of FC for Great Britain, estimate that 71 per cent. of available benefit was claimed.For your information, I have provided figures to show how many FC recipients there are in Inverclyde, Strathclyde and Scotland as a whole. The figures represent the number of recipients as at 29 October 1993 and are as follows:
Numbers Inverclyde 1,902 Strathclyde 24,617 scotland 58,971
I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.