§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) men and (b) women applied for career breaks in his Department or its agencies; and how many have had their employment terminated in the last five years.
§ Mr. HagueThe information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Those staff on career breaks remain employed by the Department during their absence and would only have
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§ Mr. TimmsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 7 February,Official Report column 213–14, if he will list for each of the three Benefits Agency offices within the Newham Benefits Agency district (a) the number of people to whom the habitual residence test has been applied and (b) the number of people who have been refused income support as a result of the habitual residence test in each month since its introduction, broken down to show the number of British nationals, EU nationals, and others refused.
§ 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.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr Stephen Timms, dated 2 March 1995:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for the number of people who have been refused Income Support as a result of the habitual residency test in the three offices of the Benefits Agency's Newham District.
The information provided in the Official Report Vol 254 col 213–4 has since been updated and I have therefore provided data at Annex A for the period up to 31 January 1995. Information has been given in respect of the three offices located at Stratford, Canning Town and Plaistow in the Newham District.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
their employment terminated in exceptional circumstances, for example, on grounds of misconduct.