§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the performance targets for each social security office in Hampshire for(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97; and how many of these targets were achieved in 1995–96 in each case indicating how these targets and achievements relate to those set nationally.[3355]
§ Mr. BurtThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.
The tables provide performance targets and achievement covering the Benefits, Child Support and Contributions Agencies. Only the Benefits Agency has individual targets for offices within Hampshire.
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Benefits agency—Secretary of State financial targets 1995–96 and 1996–97 and performance against targets 1995–96 Target/achievement National £ Hampshire North £ South East Hants and Wight £ Solent and Forest £ Social fund recovery 1995–96 target 273 million 1.16 million 2.30 million 2.22 million 1995–96 achievement 263.5 million 1.11 million 2.21 million 2.03 million 1996–97 target 278 million 1.26 million 2.26 million 2.14 million Social fund expenditure1 1995–96 target 406 million 1.73 million 3.24 million 2.98 million 1995–96 achievement 401 million 1.70 million 3.24 million 2.86 million 1996–97 target 440 million 1.82 million 3.59 million 3.09 million Benefit savings (fraud) 1995–96 target2 680 million —3 — — 1995–96 achievement 715.6 million —3 — — 1996–97 target — —3 — — Overpayments 1995–96 target 110 million —4 — — 1995–96 achievement 122 million —4 — — 1996–97 target 91.5 million 343,000 632,000 627,000 1 The Social Fund expenditure target is "to keep to the cash limit agreement with Treasury for the discretionary social fund budget approved by Parliament". 2 From 1996–97 benefit savings (fraud) are included in the new security target. 3 No. 1995–96 or 1996–97 target or performance data available at district level. 4 No overpayment recovery target or performance data available at district level in 1995–96.
Contributions agency—1995–96 Secretary of State target and performance against targets 1995–96 Class 1 survey—yield identified Number of class 1 and educational surveys Target Achieved Target Achieved Southhampton 904,400 1,229,383 829 560 Portsmouth 1,123,200 593,653 934 1,109 Fareham 567,800 391,630 384 470 Aldershot 759,600 825,026 655 586 National 133 million 151.7 million 116,500 123,308
Collectable class 2 identified Customer inquiries 1995–96 Target Achieved Target (per cent.) Achieved (per cent.) Southampton 314 160 95.0 100.0 Portsmouth 379 429 95.0 91.5 Fareham 152 143 95.0 100.0 Aldershot 217 188 95.0 100.0 National 40,000 39,791 95.0 93.8
Contributions agency—1996–97 Secretary of State targets 1996–97 Class 1 survey—yield identified Target £ Collectable class 2 identified Target Customer inquiries Target (per cent.) Portsmouth 1,179,648 544 95 Southampton 1,277,952 589 95 National 150 million 40,000 95
- 1. In April 1995 Hampshire division consisted of four parent offices—Southampton, Portsmouth, Fareham and Aldershot.
- 2.In October 1995 regions replaced divisions. Hampshire division was split between South and West and South East regions. Aldershot and Basingstoke became part of South East region, while the other areas formed a part of the South and West.
- 3. Within Hampshire in 1996–97, targets have been set individually for Portsmouth and Southampton only.
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Child support agency—Secretary of State targets 1995–96 and 1996–97 and performance against targets 1995–96: 1995–96 national target 1995–96 national achievement 1996–97 national target £300 million to be collected, or arranged for direct payment from absent parent to parent with care in 1995–96. £301.5 A band of £380 million to £400 million of maintenance to be collected by the agency or arranged for payment direct form absent parent to parent to parent with care. 269W
Child support agency—Secretary of State targets 1995–96 and 1996–97 and performance against targets 1995–96: 1995–96 national target 1995–96 national achievement 1996–97 national target 90 per cent. of payments to be made to the parent with care within 10 working days of receipt from the absent parent. 97 per cent. 95 per cent. of payments madeto parents with care to be made within 10 working days of a receipt from an absent parent.
Child support agency—Secretary of State targets 1995–96 and 1996–97 and performance against targets 1995–96: 1995–96 national target 1995–96 national achievement 1996–97 national target To achieve rapid and continuing improvement in accuracy so that in at least 75 per cent. of cases checked in March the cash value will be correct. 79 per cent. To achieve a continuing improvement in accuracy so that at least 85 per cent. of cases checked during March the case value of the assessment will be correct. Where the client is dissatisfied with a CSO's decision and requests a review, 50 per cent. to be cleared within 13 weeks; 80 per cent. within 26 weeks and no more than 20 per cent. to be older than 26 weeks at 31 March 1996. 52 per cent. within 13 weeks 71 per cent. within 26 weeks 27 per cent. over 26 weeks Where the client is dissatisfied with a CSO's decision and requests a review, 55 per cent. to be cleared within 13 weeks; 80 per cent. within 26 weeks and no more than 15 per cent. to be older than 26 weeks at 31 March 1997. 60 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks and at 31 March 1996 no more than 10 per cent. of all maintenance applications received by the agency to be over 52 weeks old. 48 per cent. within 26 weeks 15 per cent. over 52 weeks old 60 per cent. of new maintenance applications to be cleared within 26 weeks and at 31 March 1997 no more than 10 per cent. of all maintenance application received by the agency to be over 52 weeks old. To manage the agency's resources to deliver its business plan within the gross vote budget allocation. £194 million Not a Secretary of State target this year A score of 65 percent. on an index of client satisfaction as determined by an independent national survey. 45 per cent. Not a Secretary of State target this year. Note:
Hampshire offices are dealt with by the Plymouth Child Support Agency centre, but separate performance figures for those offices are not collected.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who have suffered a reduction in related earnings allowance with the introduction of the retirement allowance in each Benefits Agency office in Hampshire. [3354]