§ Sir Ralph HowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current average social security cost per claimant and in each year since 1980 at 1994 prices. [36290]
§ Mr. BurtThe information is not available. A claimant can receive more than one benefit at a time and therefore it is not possible to identify the overall number of people receiving benefits.
§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the estimated reduction in expenditure on social security benefits and on welfare foods and free school meals for social security benefits recipients if everybody between the ages of 16 to 65 years who was fit and able to work entered(a) £120 per week gross of tax and national insurance contributions, (b) £140 per week gross and (c) £160 per week gross. [36289]
§ Sir Ralph HowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the current total administrative and overhead costs required to administer social security claims and payments, including the current numbers of civil servants and benefit centres, and what was the costs in each year since 1980 at 1994 prices. [36296]
§ Mr. BurtAvailable information on administrative costs is drawn from table 10 of the social security departmental report (Cm 2813). Total costs of administration 1994–95 are estimated to be £4,408 million. This includes the cost of collecting national insurance contributions, administering the child support system, expenditure by the Department of Employment administering benefits for the unemployed and expenditure by local authorities administering housing and council tax benefits.
Figures at 1994–95 prices for previous years are as follows: 1488W
Costs of administration (at 1994–95 prices) Year £ million 1994–95 4,408 1993–94 4,373 1992–93 4,203 1991–92 3,954 1990–91 3,725 1989–90 3,530 1988–89 3,392 1987–88 3,366 1986–87 3,129 1985–86 2,911 1984–85 2,774 1983–84 2,839 1982–83 2,720 1981–82 2,599 1980–81 2,392 Notes:
(a) 1983–84 and prior year costs include the estimated DSS proportion of total DHSS administrative costs.
(b) 1987–88 and prior year costs relate to gross running costs. From 1988–89 the costs include capital costs.
At the last count—1 April 1995—the Department of Social Security employed the equivalent of 89,334 full time civil servants. The Benefits Agency currently uses 11 disability benefit centres and three benefit centres, handling clerical work relocated out of some London offices.