§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claiming income support at the Ilford office of the Benefits Agency in 1992 and 1993 were refused benefit by an adjudication officer; how many appealed; how many of those who appealed subsequently had their claim for income support allowed; and how many of those concerned had children.
§ Mr. BurtThe 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.
238WLetter from M. Bichard to Mr. Mike Gapes, dated 22 February 1994:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about persons refused income support at the Benefits Agency's Ilford Office.The full range of information you request is not readily available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. This is because statistics relating to the refusal of Income Support and those which would identify children are not routinely collected. To obtain all the relevant information would require a physical examination of all Income Support records at the Ilford Office, which are in excess of 50,000.I am, however, able to provide records which show the number of income support appeals which are for January to December for each year and are shown below:—
1992 1993 Appeals received 503 459 Appeals allowed 40 54 Appeals partially allowed 10 9 This information has been obtained from the Income Support Management Information Statistics.
I am sorry that I am unable to be of more help on this occasion but I hope you find the reply helpful.