HC Deb 10 May 1996 vol 277 cc277-8W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what statutory powers he has under social security regulations to suspend or amend the payments of benefits awarded to claimants. [28629]

Mr. Roger Evans

Payment of an award of benefit made by the independent adjudicating authorities may be suspended or withheld, in whole or in part, by the Secretary of State for Social Security under the provisions of regulations 37, 37A or 37AA of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987. The Secretary of State has no other powers which enable him to amend an award of benefit, however independent adjudication officers do have a power to review an award.

Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security on how many occasions he has used powers to suspend or amend payments of benefits to claimants already in receipt of them; how many applicants were affected by these changes; and what was the total amount that these actions saved his Department in the payment of benefits in each of the last three years. [28631]

Mr. Evans

The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.