§ Mr. SwinneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if she will list the Government and Government-commissioned research into the factors affecting take-up of benefits specifically in rural areas, listing those who undertook the research and when; [26089]
(2) if she will list the Government measures designed specifically to encourage take-up of benefits in rural areas. [26090]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyWe would encourage anyone who thinks that they may be entitled to benefit to make a claim, wherever they live in Britain.
We are particularly concerned about the million pensioners who are not claiming the Income Support to which they are entitled, and from April we will be running a number of pilot projets, costing a total of £15 million, to find out how best to get help to them.
We have also commissioned research to identify the most important barriers faced by pensioners not claiming their Income Support entitlement. This will look at any factors which may explain their reluctance to make a claim, including the type of area in which they live. It is being carried out this year by Social and Community Planning Research (SCPR).
A review of research on the take-up of benefits which covered aspects of benefit take-up in rural areas amongst others was commissioned by the Department and published in 1995. (Corden, A., 1995, Changing Perspectives on Benefit Take-up, London: HMSO).