§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many assaults have been committed on Benefits Agency staff dealing with income support claims in each year since 1979(a) nationally, (b) by region and (c) by individual social security office; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe administration of Income Support is a matter for 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. Ian McCartney dated 27 January 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about assaults on Income Support staff in Benefits Agency Offices.Statistics on assaults on Benefits Agency Staff dealing with Income Support are not readily available in the format requested. This is because when collating these statistics, no differentiation is made with regard to the type of benefit in question, other than at a national level. Information relating to regions and individual offices could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.National statistics on the total number of reported assaults related to Income Support claims and supplementary benefit, which preceded it, are reproduced on the attached schedule. Figures prior to 1992 relate to the Department of Health and Social Security and Department of Social Security. Those for 1992 and 1993 relate to the Benefits Agency only. Statistics for 1994 are not yet available.I hope you find this reply helpful.
Year Benefit Total assaults Department of (Health and) Social Security 1979 Supplementary Benefit 165 1980 Supplementary Benefit 173 1981 Supplementary Benefit 155 1982 Supplementary Benefit 179 1983 Supplementary Benefit 174 1984 Supplementary Benefit 150 1985 Supplementary Benefit 182 1986 Supplementary Benefit 225 1987 Supplementary Benefit 185 1988 Supplementary Benefit 175 1989 Income Support 148 1990 Income Support 146 1991 Income Support 112 Benefits Agency 1992 Income Support 68 1993 Income Support 56