HC Deb 30 January 1998 vol 305 cc424-5W
Mr. O'Hara

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of attendance allowance claims were dealt with within(a) 30 working days and (b) 55 working days for each year since 1992. [24870]

Mr. Denham

The administration of Attendance Allowance is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Eddie O'Hara, dated 29 January 1998: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what proportion of Attendance Allowance (AA) claims were dealt with within (a) 30 working days and (b) 55 working days for each year since 1992. The information is not available in the format requested. The Secretary of State targets for AA new claims and reviews have changed since 1992. The current target for new claims is sixty-eight per cent cleared within 30 days and eighty five per cent cleared within 53 days. The current target for reviews is sixty per cent cleared within 55 days and eighty per cent cleared within 75 days. The attached tables show the AA targets set and achieved for new claims and reviews. I hope you find this reply helpful.

Attendance allowance targets set and achieved for new claims and reviews
Year Target Achievement (per cent.)
New claims
1992–93 60 per cent. in 35 days 30
95 per cent. in 60 days 53
1993–94 60 per cent. in 35 days 82
95 per cent. in 60 days 95
1994–95 60 per cent. in 30 days 72
90 per cent. in 60 days 95
1995–96 57 per cent. in 30 days 80
89 per cent. in 55 days 96

Attendance allowance targets set and achieved for new claims and reviews
Year Target Achievement (per cent.)
1996–97 68 per cent, in 30 days 79
89 per cent. in 55 days 95
1997–98 68 per cent, in 30 days 75
85 per cent, in 53 days 93
Reviews
1992–93 60 per cent. in 61 days 55
95 per cent. in 81 days 71
1993–94 60 per cent. in 61 days 82
85 per cent. in 81 days 92
1994–95 60 per cent. in 61 days 85
85 per cent. in 81 days 96
1995–96 59 per cent. in 56 days 73
84 per cent. in 76 days 89
1996–97 60 per cent. in 55 days 74
80 per cent. in 75 days 91
1997–98 60 per cent. in 55 days 70
80 per cent. in 75 days 87