§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many people who have been tested by the Benefits Agency regarding their habitual residence in the common travel area have passed the habitual residence test since it introduction in August 1994; and how many were(a) European Economic Area nationals, (b) UK citizens and (c) others; [6812]
822W(2) if he will now update the information contained in his answer to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Ms Church) of 20 February 1995, Official Report, column 12, concerning the number of British citizens who have passed the habitual residence test since its introduction; [6998]
(3) how many British citizens have passed the habitual residence test since its introduction. [10235]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is set out in the table and covers the period August 1994 to November 1995. It relates only to income support. Housing benefit figures will not be available until December 1996 at the earliest.
Pass EEA nationals 11,660 British citizens 76,494 Others 14,323 Total 102,477 The Benefits Agency has placed figures relating to the habitual residence test in the Library since April 1995.
§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people who have been tested by the Benefits Agency regarding their habitual residence have passed the test each month since its introduction, broken down into European Economic Area nationals, United Kingdom citizens and others. [10236]
§ Mr. HealdThe information is set out in the table.
Number of claims which have passed the habitual residence test since introduction Month and year EEA nationals UK citizens Others August 1994 286 846 249 September 1994 698 2,680 648 October 1994 932 3,533 876 November 1994 909 4,251 970 December 1994 513 3,637 729 January 1995 740 4,664 831 February 1995 774 4,213 950 March 1995 779 4,755 990 April 1995 668 4,078 845 May 1995 640 5,417 947 June 1995 726 5,990 1,065 July 1995 654 6,424 1,078 August 1995 779 7,276 873 September 1995 725 6,526 850 October 1995 930 6,431 822 November 1995 800 6,085 694 December 1995 371 4,229 459 1. These figures are provisional and may be subject to change. From April 1995 onwards these figures are available in the Library.
2. The figures for "UK Citizens" and "Others" may include repeat claims.
3. "Others" include foreign nationals who have been given indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK by the immigration authorities.
§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of those who failed the habitual residence test in its first year were United Kingdom citizens; what was the total estimated savings from the test in its first year; what proportion of the savings was owing to failure by United Kingdom citizens; and if he will set out the basis of his calculation. [10237]
823W
§ Mr. HealdTwenty one per cent. of income support claimants who failed the habitual residence test were British citizens. The total estimated income-related benefits savings from the test in its first year is £28 million. The proportion of savings owing to failure by British citizens is 53 per cent. of this figure. These savings are calculated on the basis that European Union citizens would have received income-related benefits, including income support, averaging £104.95 a week for an estimated period of 13 weeks before going off benefit. British citizens are assumed to have received the same amount for an estimated 26 weeks. The amount of benefit is based on the income support personal allowance for single claimants aged over 25 plus the average amount of housing benefit and council tax benefit paid in the London area. Figures relating to failures arising out of housing benefit without receipt of income support will not be available until late 1996.