§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what proportion of housing benefit claims claimants receive a determination within(a) two weeks, (b) two to three weeks, (c) three to four weeks and (d) more than four weeks.
§ Mr. BurtI refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 19 January 1993, at column211, which gives the latest available information on the proportion of claims determined within 14 days. Data on the proportion of claims which are determined after two weeks is not collected.
§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his Department's target for the number of days taken to provide payment for housing benefit claims; and what proportion of payments are made, from the date when the claim is received, within(a) two weeks, (b) two to three weeks, (c) three to four weeks, (d) four to six weeks and (e) more than six weeks.
§ Mr. BurtLocal authorities are statutorily required to make the first payment of any housing benefit—rent allowance—within 14 days of the receipt of a claim or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter. Where authorities are unable to do this, interim payments should be awarded.
Data on the proportion of claims where the target is met and on the proportion where it is exceeded are not collected. However, monitoring is to commence in 1993–94 with the introduction of the Audit Commission's citizens charter indicators in local authorities.