§ Ms ShortTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support and unemployment benefit claimants have(a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully claimed income support under the hardship rules for each region, for Great Britain as a whole and for each 139W quarter since April 1990, showing those whose claim was in doubt due to their (i) not actively seeking work, (ii) refusing suitable employment and (iii) availability for work.
§ 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.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Ms Clare Short, dated 20 June 1994:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for details of payments made by way of Income Support under the hardship rules.I have attached information which relates to the period from June 1993. Information prior to this date is already available in the Library (Official Report Vol. 196 Col. 634: Vol. 199 Col. 81: Vol. 208 Cols. 239–240 and Vol. 229 Cols. 1017–1018).The number of customers who have successfully or unsuccessfully applied for a hardship payment because they have refused suitable employment are included in the number of customers whose claim is in doubt because of their availability for employment. I regret it is not possible to break this figure down.The information provided has been obtained from the Benefits Agency Management Information Statistics. The figures are based on the Benefits Agency's Territorial structure, which has been in force since 1991.This information will, in future, be placed on a quarterly basis in the Library. I hope you find this reply helpful.
Territory June 1993 Sept. 1993 Dec. 1993 March 1994 Actively seeking work—hardship applications Scotland and Northern A 21 52 10 113 R 84 18 16 30 Wales and Central A 47 69 86 97 R 37 78 96 149 Southern A 78 122 55 62 R 40 155 47 79 National totals A 146 243 151 272 R 161 155 159 258
Territory June 1993 Sept. 1993 Dec. 1993 March 1994 Availability for work—hardship applications Scotland and Northern A 86 193 76 97 R 92 82 82 32 Wales and Central A 93 124 136 197 R 73 79 95 113 Southern A 440 485 533 340 R 600 711 667 602 National totals A 619 802 745 643 R 765 872 844 747 A=Awards.
R=Refusal.