§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many employees of his Department and of each of its agencies are in receipt of family credit payments.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information requested is not available.
§ Ms JowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how long it took to process a family credit application in each region for England during 1992 and 1993.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is not available in the form requested as family credit claims are administered centrally. The clearance times for Great Britain as a whole were as follows:
1991–92
1073W
- 64.4 per cent. in 18 working days
- 89.2 per cent. in 35 working days
1992–93
- 60.7 per cent. in 13 working days
- 96.8 per cent. in 45 working days
Source: Social Security Departmental Report.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what category of claimant would continue to draw income support if the job seeker's allowance were in operation.
§ Mr. Roger EvansClaimants in specified groups who are not required to be available for work could continue to claim income support. The main groups will be lone parents, men aged 60–64, those with significant caring responsibilities and people with disabilities.
However, claimants in these groups who want to claim job seeker's allowance could do so provided that they meet the entitlement conditions, including being available for and actively seeking work.