§ Mr. Denzil DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is her estimate of the total amounts received by persons resident in Wales for the latest available year in respect of(a) disability living allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) industrial injuries disablement benefit; and what these are as a percentage of the total UK amounts in each case. [21615]
§ Mr. DenhamThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
£ million Wales1 Great Britain2 United Kingdom3 Disability Living Allowance4 371 4,361 4,649 as a percentage of Great Britain 8.5 — — as a percentage of United Kingdom 8.0 — — Incapacity Benefit4 746 7,767 8,084 as a percentage of Great Britain 9.6 — — as a percentage of United Kingdom 9.2 — — Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit5 58 670 — as a percentage of Great Britain 8.7 — — 1 Figures are estimates based on the ratio of average weekly amounts in payment for Wales and Great Britain. 2 Figures are estimated out-turn published in the Social Security Departmental Report 1997–98 to 1999–2000. 3 Figures for Northern Ireland are from Social Security's Annual Report and Accounts 1996–97. 4 Figures relate to 1996–97. 5 Figures relate to 1995–96.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many benefit claims have been reviewed under the remit of the Benefits Integrity Unit since its formation; and how many claims have been(a) reduced, (b) left unaltered and (c) up-rated. [21509]
§ Mr. DenhamOne of our key aims is to rebuild integrity in, and public support for, the Social Security system and the way in which public money is spent. We need to focus on those who are properly entitled to benefit. This is why we have set up the Benefit Integrity Project.
The administration of this programme is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
247WLetter from Peter Mathison to Dr. Phyllis Starkey, dated 13 January 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the number of benefit claims that have been reviewed under the remit of the Benefits Integrity Unit since its formation, and the number of claims that have been reduced, left unaltered and uprated.As at 30 November 1997, the Benefit Integrity Project has looked at 27,511 DLA awards. Of the awards that were looked at again 2339 were reduced, 1152 were disallowed entirely, 23,363 left unaltered and 657 increased. In addition staff working on the Benefit Integrity Project have dealt with 5979 renewal claims of which 1080 have been disallowed, 1541 renewed at a lower rate, 3174 renewed at the same rate and 184 renewed at a higher rate.I hope you find this reply helpful.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims have so far been assessed under the Disability Benefits Integrity Review; and how many claims have been(a) set aside, (b) reduced and (c) increased (i) in total and (ii) by region. [22053]
§ Mr. DenhamThe administration of Social Security benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 13 January 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many claims has so far been assessed under the Disability Benefits Integrity Review; and how many claims have been (a) set aside, (b) reduced and (c) increased (i) in total and (ii) by region.As at 30 November 1997, the Benefit Integrity Project (BIP) has looked at 27,511 DLA awards. Of these awards 2339 were reduced and 1152 were disallowed entirely, a total of 3491. 657 awards have been increased. The balance, 23,363 remained unchanged. In addition, staff working on the BIP have dealt with 5979 renewal claims of which 1080 have been disallowed, 1541 renewed at a lower rate, 3174 renewed at the same rate and 184 renewed at a higher rate. Information about the regional distribution of awards is not available.I hope you find this reply helpful.
§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases have been reviewed to date as part of the Disability Living Allowance Integrity Project by(a) personal interview and (b) written assessment. [21101]
§ Mr. DenhamThe administration of the Benefit Integrity Project is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with further details.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mrs. Angela Browning, dated 13 January 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many cases have been reviewed to date as part of Disability Living Allowance Integrity Project by personal interview and written assessment.As at 30 November 1997, the number of cases on which action taken by the Benefit Integrity Project had been completed following a personal interview was 5348 and following a postal enquiry was 22,163, a total of 27,511. Of these, the number of awards changed following a visit was 571 and the number changed following a postal 248W enquiry was 3577, a total of 4148. In addition staff working on the Benefit Integrity Project have dealt with 5979 renewal claims of which 1080 have been disallowed, 1541 renewed at a lower rate, 3174 renewed at the same rate and 184 renewed at a higher rate.I hope you find this reply helpful.