§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many Income Support recipients in 1993–94 were subject to deductions for arrears of community 70WA charge, how much money was recovered, what was the average amount recovered per claimant, what was the cost of collecting this money, and under what head in the Appropriation Accounts these transactions are recorded.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)The information is not available in the form suggested. Available information follows:
The number of Income Support recipients in 1993–94 who were subject to deductions for arrears of community charge was 533,000 (source, the Quarterly Statistical Enquiry. February 1994).
Statistics on the amount of money and the average amount recovered can only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, the following table gives the average amount of deduction:
Number with Community Charge Deduction (for arrears) Average amount of Deduction £ May 1993 438,000 2.28 August 1993 506,000 2.28 November 1993 519,000 2.28 February 533,000 2.27 Source:
Income Support Annual Enquiry—May 1993, Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry—August 1993, November 1993 and February 1994.
The Benefits Agency deducts standard weekly amounts from a person's Income Support. These are: £3.45, higher rate, where a joint and several liability order has been obtained by the local authority for a couple and £2.20, lower rate, where a single liability order has been obtained. The averages are different to these figures because the Community Charge debt will not necessarily be exactly divisible by the standard amount.
The cost of collecting community charge deductions from Income Support claimants is on average £14 per claimant.
These transactions are not recorded in the Appropriation Accounts as they have no consequences for the department.