§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average amount of deductions for recipients of income support who receive the disability premium and have(a) more than one deduction and (b) more than two deductions;
(2) how many recipients of income support are subject to more than (a) one, (b) two or (c) three deductions from their income support; and what is the average amount per person of those deductions;
(3) what is the number and average amount of deductions for recipients of income support who receive the lone parent premium and have (a) more than one deduction and (b) more than two deductions;
(4) what is the number and average amount of deductions for recipients of income support who receive the family premium and have (a) more than one deduction and (b) more than two deductions.
§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support and unemployment benefit claimants have(a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully claimed income support under the hardship rules, showing those whose claim was in doubt due to (i) not actively seeking work, (ii) refusing suitable employment and (iii) availability for work for each region and for Great Britain as a whole for each quarter since April 1992.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Ms Clare Short, dated 26 July 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary 1017W Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking how many income support and unemployment benefit claimants have (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully claimed income support under the hardship rules, showing those whose claim was in doubt due to (i) not actively seeking work, (ii) refusing suitable employment and (iii) availability for work for each region and for Great Britain as a whole for each quarter since 1992.
The information has been taken from the Benefits Agency Management Information Statistics and is attached. The number of customers who have successfully or unsuccessfully
Availability for work—Hardship Applications Territory June 1992 September 1992 December 1992 March 1993 Scotland and Northern 1A 203 213 152 136 2R 46 83 66 89 Wales and Central 1A 150 156 168 52 2R 84 73 54 55 Southern 1A 370 416 293 421 2R 115 146 261 428 National Totals 1A 723 785 613 609 2R 245 302 381 572 1A =Awards 2R = Refusals
Actively Seeking Work—Hardship Applications Territory June 1992 September 1992 December 1992 March 1993 Scotland and Northern 1A 24 43 14 19 2R 139 145 96 112 Wales and Central 1A 52 69 30 38 2R 55 59 44 25 Southern 1A 71 141 101 75 2R 54 51 21 35 National Totals 1A 147 253 145 132 2R 248 255 161 172 1A = Awards 2R = Refusals
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average level of deductions from income support excluding current liability for mortgage interest in each year since 1989.
§ Mr. BurtThe information requested can be obtained from the figures in table 10.1 of volume 1 of the "Department of Social Security Income Support Statistics Annual Statistical Enquiry", May 1989 to May 1992, copies of which are in the Library.
Separate statistics for current liability for mortgage interest were not collected for the years 1989 to 1991 and are only available for May 1992.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by premium the deductions made from the income support of persons who receive the lower rate of income support for persons aged under 25 years.
§ Mr. BurtThe numbers of deductions made from the benefit of income support recipients who receive the under 25 years of age rate of income support and who are entitled to a premium are as follows:
1018Wapplied for a hardship payment because they have refused suitable employment are included in the numbers of customers whose claim is in doubt because of their availability for employment. I regret it is not possible to break this figure down.
The figures are based on the Benefits Agency's Territorial structure, which has been in force since April 1991.
I hope that you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.
Number Disability Premium Community Charge Deduction 1,000 Social Fund Recovery 4,000 Source:
"Income Support Annual Enquiry", May 1992.
Notes:
1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. Recipients with the lower rate of Income Support for those aged under 25 have been identified on the basis that they are under 25, single and without dependents, and do not therefore qualify for the high rate of benefit.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of income support are subject to direct payment of mortgage interest for(a) current liability and (b) arrears.
§ Mr. BurtThe latest information in the form requested is in table 10.1 of volume 1 of "Department of Social Security—Income Support Statistics, Annual Statistical Enquiry", May 1992, a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of income support are 1019W having deductions made from their benefit (a) for community charge arrears, (b) fuel bills and (c) social fund repayments; and what percentage of the total number of claimants this represents.
§ Mr. BurtThe information requested can be obtained from the figures in tables 3.1 and 10.1 of volume 1 of the "Department of Social Security—Income Support Statistics Annual Statistical Enquiry", May 1992, a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were dependent(a) on supplementary benefit in 1979 and (b) on income support in 1993; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtThere were 4.4 million claimants, partners and dependants receiving supplementary benefit in 1979. The latest available income support figures are for May 1992, when there were 8.9 million claimants, partners and dependants receiving income support. Comparisons between supplementary benefit and income support are difficult, since the conditions of entitlement and the basis of assessment differ.
Notes:
1. Sources: Supplementary Benefit Annual Statistical Enquiry, November 1979. Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry, May 1992.
2. Figures rounded to the nearest hundred thousand.