§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by social security district office(a) the number of people who have been refused benefits for failing the habitual residence test since its introduction and (b) how many have successfully appealed.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe 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 Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 6 February 1995
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for statistical information in connection with the habitual residence test for each Benefits Agency district office.
Information about the number of people refused Income Support after failing the habitual residence test has been collated for the 214W period 1 August 1994 to 31 December 1994 and is provided at Annex A. The table shows the twenty one Benefits Agency Area Directorates that make up Great Britain and lists the districts that make up each area. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Housing and Council Tax Benefits information is not yet available and is collected by the Department of Social Security from Local Authorities annually.
Data regarding the number of successful appeals, in cases where Income Support has been disallowed as a result of the test's application, is not collected in the format requested; this could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
I hope you find this reply helpful.