HC Deb 01 February 1994 vol 236 cc694-5W
Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the total number of benefits claimants who have been awarded compensation for injury or disease and who have repaid benefits to the compensation recovery unit under the Social Security Act 1990, in each year since 1990;

(2) what was the total sum of money claimed back under the Social Security Act 1990 by the compensation recovery unit from benefit claimants who have been awarded compensation for injury or disease in each year since 1990.

Mr. Scott

This 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 Mr. John Denham, dated 31 January 1994: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking about the numbers of benefit claimants who have been awarded compensation for injury or disease and have repaid benefits to Compensation Recovery Unit in each year since 1990; and the total recovered in these cases. I have provided the information you require in the table below. It should be noted, however, that figures are only available from the Recovery Scheme's inception in September 1990 up to December 1993, the latest date for which figures are available.

Mr. Burt

The available information is in the table.

Estimated number (000s) of cases where state retirement pension is received
Year With housing benefit only With both housing benefit and income support With income support only
1988 1,040 920 692
1989 1,070 810 538
1990 1,051 788 629
1991 1,048 682 620
1992 1,049 626 721

Sources:

  • Income Support Statistics Annual Enquiries May 1988 to May 1992.
  • Housing Benefit Statistics Annual Eqnuiries May 1988 to May 1992.

Notes:

  1. 1. Average figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand and are per benefit unit and not per individual. A benefit unit may be a single person or a couple.
  2. 2. For all years, Housing Benefit has been defined as rent rebate and rent allowance.
  3. 3. The Income Support scheme was not introduced until April 1988; Housing Benefit information prior to this date in the form requested is not held.
  4. 4. There will be an element of double counting in the 1988 figure for those on Income Support only, as this includes both claimants and partners where both are in receipt of a state Retirement Pension.
  5. 5. Estimates for 1993–94 and projected figures for 1994–95 are not available.