§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many claims have been made against the Benefits Agency owing to claimants being wrongly advised by the Benefits Agency in the last year for which figures are available; [33926]
(2) how many extra-statutory payments have been paid out in compensation to claimants found to have been given wrong advice by the Benefits Agency in the last year for which figures are available; [33927]
(3) how many claims made against the Benefits Agency for wrongly advising claimants in the last year for which figures are available have been upheld by the social security appeal tribunal. [33929]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy on extra-statutory compensation to claimants found to have been given wrong advice by the Benefits Agency. [33928]
§ Mr. EvansWhere it its determined that official advice was clearly wrong and that, as a result, a claimant has lost underlying statutory entitlement to benefit, an extra-statutory payment is considered. It is determined as though the correct advice had been given and in accordance with the benefit legislation appropriate to the period in question. The Department's policy in such cases is that a compensation payment will be considered.