§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support elaimants are registered at the Chesterfield, Buxton, Ilkeston, Derby—Beckett street—Derby—London road—and Sutton Benefits Agency offices as at March 1994; and how many at each of these were(a) income support claimants signing on as unemployed, (b) pensioners, (c) income support claimants receiving a lone-parent premium, (d) those receiving a disability premium, (e) those receiving a carer's premium and (f) those receiving a severe disability premium.
§ Mr. BurtThe administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Richard, 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. Harry Barnes, dated 21 June 1994:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for statistics relating to Income Support claims administered by offices within your constituency area.The complete range of information is not available in the format requested and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost. This is because statistics relating to customers receiving a Carer Premium and or a Severe Disability Premium are only collated on a national basis. The latest information available for those recieving a Carer Premium is available in the Annual Statistical Enquiry (ASE) for May 1992. The latest information for those receiving a Severe Disability Premium is held in the Quarterly Statistical Enquiry (QSE) for August 1993. A copy of both are available in the Library.Both of the above premiums can be awarded at the same time as other premiums.185WI have attached a table showing pensioner customers, lone parent customers, unemployed customers and the number where the statistical information held on the Income Support Computer System (ISCS) shows that a Disability Premium has been awarded.Guidance advises that wherever a Disability Premium has been awarded, the statistical symbol should be amended on the ISCS. However, there may be cases where the customer receives a Disability Premium in respect of a partner where this action has not been taken, therefore the figures quoted may be inaccurate.It should also be noted that the number of customers who receive a Lone Parent Premium may not equate to the number of Lone Parents. This is because the Lone Parent may be entitled to a more beneficial premium.I have taken Sutton Office to mean Sutton-in-Ashfield.I hope you find this reply helpful.
Office Type of Income Support Derby (London Road) E 6,326 P 4,178 L 3,440 D 1,214 Derby (Beckett Street) E 7,295 P 5,733 L 2,502 D 1,446 Buxton E 3,086 P 2,549 L 1,203 D 594 Ilkeston E 5,106 P 4,501 L 2,386 D 1,239 Chesterfield E 8,853 P 7,037 L 9,948 D 2,358 Sutton-in-Ashfield E 4,297 P 3,169 L 1,875 D 1,138 E=Unemployed.
P=Pensioners.
L=Lone Parents.
D=Those in receipt of a Disability Premium.