§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support claimants who have lost their benefit books have been refused an immediate replacement in the past three years; and, where there has been a previously lost book, how many had been subject to unauthorised encashments.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe 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.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 7 December 1994:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of customers who have, in the past 3 years, been refused an immediate replacement after losing their Income Support order book; and, the number of unauthorised encashments where there had been a previous loss.The information you have requested about the refusal of replacement payments is not available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. However, there was an omission in the details provided in response to your previous Question on this matter (Official Report Vol.218, Co1.694) as one category of loss had not been included. I have taken this opportunity to correct that and, at the same time, to bring it up to date. The revised figures are attached as an appendix to this letter. I am sorry for any inconvenience you may have been caused.For the reason given in the earlier reply, the present payment system does not allow us to identify accurately the number of unauthorised encashments of order books which had previously been reported as lost. Plans to automate benefit payments made at post offices are expected to provide for full reconciliation of transactions.I hope that you find this reply helpful.362W
Income Support 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 Number of order books issued 6,472,016 7,599,276 9,117,392 Number reported lost or stolen 66,954 89,919 108,484 Number reported lost or mislaid after receipt 28,004 42,072 52,931
Income Support 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 Number reported stolen after receipt1 7,418 10,267 13,357 1 Omitted from figures supplied previously
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what categories of people with disabilities will be excluded from his plans to limit income support assistance with mortgage interest payments after October 1995;
(2) if people over the age of 60 will be excluded from his plans to limit income support assistance with mortgage interest payments from October 1995;
(3) if lone parents will be excluded from his plans to limit income support assistance with mortgage interest payments from October 1995;
(4) when he proposes to issue a consultation paper setting out his plans to limit income support assistance with mortgage interest payments from October 1995.
§ Mr. Roger EvansChanges to the level of income support assistance with mortgage interest payments were announced in the uprating statement. Pensioners will be protected and the position of other groups will be considered during the consultation process. The consultation paper will be issued in the spring.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to scale back income support assistance with mortgage interest payments for existing borrowers.
§ Mr. Roger EvansProposals for changes to income support help with mortgage interest payments for existing borrowers who make claims for income support from next October were contained in the uprating statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 30 November.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures giving a breakdown of expenditure on income support assistance with mortgage interest payments by claimant group and for all claimants showing for each(a) total expenditure on interest payments for the first nine months of a claim and (b) total expenditure on interest payments over nine months from the start of a claim, giving the most recent available figures.
§ Mr. Roger EvansDetails are available only for the weekly amount of mortgage interest in payment at the time the survey was carried out. Details are set out in the table below.
Income support claimants with mortgage interest payments Weekly expenditure on mortgage interest-claimants on IS less than 9 months £ million Weekly expenditure on mortgage interest-claimants on IS 9 months or more £ million Pensioners 0.2 1.6 Sick/Disabled 0.4 2.2 Lone Parent 0.9 4.2 Unemployed 3.4 6.3 Other 0.4 1.2 All cases 5.3 15.5 Source:
Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry February 1994.
363W
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many existing recipients there are of the disability premium of income support, housing benefit and council tax rebate in(a) Scotland, and (b) Strathclyde and the Benefits Agency districts contained within Benefits Agency area directorates 4 and 5.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe figures for income support for August 1994, the latest information available, are:
Scotland (total) Strathclyde AD4 AD5 78,732 51,588 31,105 26,690 Source:
Benefits Agency Management Information Statistics. Data is subject to amendment.
The information about housing benefit and council tax benefit is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is as follows:
Housing benefit Council tax benefit Scotland 75,000 68,000 Strathclyde 48,000 Information not available Source: Housing Benefit Management Information Systems, annual 1 per cent. samples with and without Income Support taken at the end of May 1993. Notes: 1 The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. 2 The figures are for benefit units which may be a single person or a couple.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the effect of his decision to remove the right to income support covering the first nine months of mortgage interest on the rate of house repossessions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe proposals announced strike a careful balance between the need to stimulate the insurance market, and the need to protect owner occupiers. There is no reason to suppose the withdrawal of income support entitlement for new borrowers for the first nine months will adversely affect the rate of repossessions.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what discussions has he had with(a) mortgage companies and (b) insurance companies regarding his proposals to remove the right to income support covering the first nine months of mortgage interest; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Roger EvansOfficials hold regular meetings with lenders and insurers to discuss issues of mutual interest. Ministers intend to meet the Council for Mortgage Lenders and the Association of British Insurers in the new year as part of the consultation process on these proposals.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the savings to his Department that will accrue from proposed changes to the level and availability of income support to cover mortgage interest in each of the next five years.
§ Mr. Roger EvansWe propose to consult widely on the precise detail of the changes. The financial effects will depend on the outcome of the consultation and the final details of the scheme.
364W
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if his proposals to remove the right to income support covering the first nine months of mortgage interest for all mortgages taken out after October 1995 apply to(a) those re-mortgaging existing properties and (b) second mortgages taken out to cover necessary structural repairs.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThese matters will be considered during the consultation process.