HC Deb 20 July 1994 vol 247 cc260-2W
Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many public surgeries were held by the war pensions welfare service in Shetland since 1985.

Mr. Hague

This is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the War Pensions Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Wallace, dated 19 July 1994: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the number of War Pensions surgeries held in Shetland. No War Pensions surgeries have been held in Shetland since 1985. The local Benefits Agency office in Lerwick are aware of the War Pensions Welfare Service and contact is on a regular basis, discussing any matters which may arise in connection with either existing or potential War Pensioners or Widows. The Lerwick office is regularly supplied with War Pensions publicity material including posters, claim forms and the War Pensions Welfare Officer's calling cards. In addition, the Welfare Office for the Highlands and Islands has visited Shetland yearly since 1984 and all those on the island who required or asked for assistance were contacted. The next visit is scheduled for August 1994. A member of the local War Pensions Committee, who also works for the Social Services Department on the island, is resident in Shetland and visits pensioners or widows when required.

Number of housing benefit recipients in Great Britain 1988–1993 (000s)
All private tenants
Other private tenants (Excluding Housing Associations)
Local Authority All private tenants Housing Associations Regulated Deregulated
1988 3,132 69 n/a n/a n/a
1989 2,971 958 n/a n/a n/a
1990 2,928 1,067 n/a n/a n/a
1991 2,945 1,085 n/a n/a n/a
1992 3,038 1,290 345 378 567
1993 3,053 1,477 412 339 726
n/a=Not available.

Source: Housing Benefit Management Information System quarterly caseload count in May of each year.

Note:

Information on Fair Rent is not collected. Data on Housing Association, regulated and deregulated rents is only available from May 1992.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table setting out for each year between 1988–89 and 1993–94 the mean and median rents paid by recipients of housing benefit according to whether they live in local authority, housing association or private

Mean and Median Rents (£/week) in Housing Benefit cases in Great Britain
All private tenants
Local authority All private tenants Housing associations Other private tenants (excluding housing associations)
Regulated Deregulated
Mean Median Mean Median Mean Median Mean Median Mean Median
1988 18.96 18.23 21.80 20.15 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
1989 20.57 20.03 24.29 22.50 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
1990 23.67 22.59 29.42 25.98 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
1991 27.29 25.45 35.75 30.50 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
1992 30.48 28.29 41.68 35.50 35.53 32.91 34.20 30.50 50.93 43.20
n/a = Not available.

Source: Housing Benefit Management Information System annual 1 per cent. sample of HB cases in May.

Note: Information on Fair Rent is not collected. Data on Housing Association, regulated and dregulated rents only available from May 1992.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table setting out for each year since 1988–9 how many claimants of(a) rent rebate and (b) rent allowance, divided between those claimants who are housing association tenants and those who are private sector tenants, were unemployed and how many were

I hope you find my reply helpful.