HC Deb 08 December 1997 vol 302 c475W
Mr. Swinney

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the value of unclaimed benefits for the year 1996–97 in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland. [19234]

Mr. Keith Bradley

Estimates for 1996–97 are not yet available. The total amount of unclaimed income-related benefits in Great Britain in 1995–96 is estimated as between £2.3 billion and £3.5 billion. The total amount of unclaimed benefit in Scotland in 1995–96 is estimated as between £200 million and £300 million.

Estimates relating to Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Source

Family Resources Survey.

Notes

  • 1. Estimates relate to the four main income related benefits: Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Family Credit only. All take-up estimates exclude the self-employed as their entitlement to income-related benefits cannot readily be established from survey data.
  • 2. Estimates for 1996–97 are not yet available.
  • 3. The estimate for Scotland should be regarded as indicative only, as it is based on modest sample sizes.