§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many initial claimants of unemployment benefit were advised to claim other benefits instead in each month since April 1992; and what percentage of new claims this figure represents;
(2) how many initial claims for unemployment benefit there were in each month since April 1992; and how many were successful.
§ Mr. McLoughlinResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Tony Lloyd, dated 11 May 1993:
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Questions about how many 453W initial claims for Unemployment Benefit there were in each month since April 1992 and how many were successful; and how many initial claimants were advised to claim other benefits instead and what percentage of new claims this figure represents. These are matters which fall within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency. As the questions you have asked are related, I have provided a table which incorporates both replies for ease of reference and clarity. I hope that this is acceptable.
The attached table shows, at Column 1, the total number of people who contacted my local offices in each calendar month since April 1992 with a view to making a new claim to Unemployment Benefit. Column 2 shows the actual number of new claims taken. The difference between the two figures represents claims which were not pursued. A claim not pursued occurs when a client decides, as a direct result of discussion with my local office people, not to pursue their claim for benefit. This may be for any of a wide variety of reasons; for example, my people may advise the clients that they do not appear to meet eligibility conditions. I should emphasise, however, our instructions are quite clear in stating that clients must never be told they cannot claim. A non
Month 1. 2. 3. 4. All possible claims (including claims not pursued) Number of new claims taken Starts on other benefits Starts as per cent, of all possible claims April 1992 356,514 321,634 744 0.2 May 1992 396,732 358,263 878 0.2 June 1992 370,878 329,123 909 0.3 July 1992 567,830 513,225 1,030 0.2 August 1992 400,250 359,541 869 0.2 September 1992 417,249 375,308 879 0.2 October 1992 526,380 477,277 1,067 0.2 November 1992 420,699 381,278 1,066 0.3 December 1992 353,733 320,750 705 0.2 January 1993 496,192 450,316 1,223 0.3 February 1993 359,232 325,712 833 0.2 March 1993 335,962 307,560 742 0.2
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many initial claims for unemployment benefit were refused under the actively seeking work provisions in each month since April 1992; and what percentage of new claims this represents.
§ Mr. McLoughlinResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Tony Lloyd, dated 11 May 1993:
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about the number of initial claims for unemployment benefit that were refused under the actively seeking work provision in each month since April 1992 and what percentage of new claims this represents. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
This information is not available in the precise form requested. The information we collect in respect of adjudication activity refers to the total number of decisions given under each question and does not distinguish between initial claims and subsequent claims. These statistics are not available on a monthly basis, but are compiled quarterly. The information is available in a published document, the "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions", under the
454Wpursuit case can only result from the client's own voluntary decision after the benefit conditions have been explained to them.
One of the reasons why a claim may not be pursued is that an adviser may identify that clients should be claiming a more appropriate benefit and advise them accordingly. Where appropriate, the adviser will contact other agencies, such as DSS, or help the client complete the necessary forms. Information on cases where the adviser has been actively involved in getting a client on to another benefit is collected centrally and is shown in column 3. This column only shows starts on other benefits. We do not hold information on how many clients are referred to an alternative benefit, but do not actually claim it.
The statistical months shown in the table can be either four or five weeks, which accounts for some of the fluctuations in them.
I hope this is helpful.
As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
heading of Actively Seeking Employment. Copies of this document can be obtained from the House of Commons Library.
As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many initial claims for unemployment benefit were refused because of adjudication decisions and disallowances in each month since April 1992; if she will break down the figures by type of refusal; and if she will give the figures as a percentage of new claims.
§ Mr. McLoughlinResponsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Tony Lloyd, dated 11 May 1993:
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question about the number of initial unemployment benefit claims disallowed monthly since April 1992. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
This information is not available in the form you have requested. The information we collect in respect of adjudication activity does not distinguish between decisions 455W given in respect of initial claims and those relating to subsequent claims. Adjudication statistics are not available on a monthly basis, as requested, but statistics are compiled quarterly. Information on the total number of decisions given, and the proportion disallowed, under each question is available in a published document, the "Analysis of Adjudication Officers' Decisions". Copies of this document can be obtained from the House of Commons Library.
As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.