§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list all DSS-funded pilots, trials and research studies which have been conducted since 1989 in(a) the city of Sunderland, (b) Wearside district and (c) Sunderland travel-to-work area identifying (i) title, summary and duration of the pilot/trial, (ii) target population and total number of participants and (iii) whether each pilot, trial or research finding was published and the date of publication; and if he will list all other non-DSS research bodies or organisations involved in each pilot, trial or research scheme. [6324]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThere are no details available of any pilots, trials or research having taken place in prior to 1992 in the geographical areas specified.
1992–95: Wearside District Pilot trial Title Annual Local Customer Survey Duration Several weeks Target population All district customers Participants 10 per cent. of total customer base Publication Yes—results held locally (no results held for 1992 survey) Non-DSS involvement None
1994: Sunderland North and Houghton-le-Spring (part of Wearside) Sunderland travel to work area (Durham and Tyneside) Pilot trial Title Benefit Review of Income Support (IS) and Unemployment Benefit (UB) Duration 5 April 1994 to 8 May 1994 (Durham) 26 September 1994 to 25 November 1994 (Tyneside and Wearside) Target population Ail Benefits Agency (BA) customers in these areas Participants 20 (Durham)—Pilot 280 (Tyneside and Wearside) Publication Main exercise 10 July 1995 Non-DSS involvement Department of Employment Similar research for trials and full reviews of other benefits is likely to involve some BA customers in the relevant geographical areas.
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1995 City of Sunderland and Wearside Pilot trial Title Trial into Revised Standards of Identity during Encashment of Instruments of Payment (IOPs) Duration March-June 1995 Target population All BA customers in these areas
1995 City of Sunderland and Wearside Pilot trial Participants Actual numbers not known. Would include all BA customers who presented an IOP for encashment at a Post Office during the period of the trial Publication Not for external publication. Information for internal use only. Non-DSS involvement Post Office Counters Ltd. In addition, the Sunderland travel-to-work area has been selected as one of the eight areas chosen to pilot earnings top-up. The pilot will start in October 1996 and last for three years. Proposals for earnings top-up—an in-work benefit for people without dependent children—were published on 5 July 1995 in the Green Paper "Piloting change in Social Security—helping people into work". The draft rules of the scheme, including the postcodes of the pilot areas, were laid before Parliament on 6 November 1995 and debated in the House of Commons on 25 November.