§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms Cunningham) of 6 July 1999,Official Report, columns 506–07, if his estimate assumed that (a) a separate Scottish system would require the provision of new buildings or (b) a separate Scottish system would be denied access to existing computer systems; and if he will make a statement. [90926]
§ Mr. TimmsNo detailed assessment has been made of the costs of administering the Social Security system separately in Scotland. The estimate of £600 million in my previous reply, 6 July 1999,Official Report, columns 506–07, was based on assumptions which were made about the apportionment of the Department's central and fixed costs which include these elements.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the procedural steps for assessing eligibility, reviewing, appealing and making payment of(a) child support allowance, (b) housing benefit, (c) council tax benefit and (d) income support; and which of the offices of his Department and its agencies in Scotland handle each of these steps. [90866]
§ Mr. TimmsApplications for Child Support in Scotland are administered from the Child Support Agency Centre in Falkirk. Details of the procedure for applying for child maintenance and for review of assessment and appeals are set out in the booklet CSA 2008 "A guide to child support maintenance".
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are administered by Local Authorities, or in some cases Scottish Homes in respect of Housing Benefit only. The procedural steps on a claim, including those for assessment, reviews, appeals and payments, are set out in the booklet RR2 "A guide to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit".
Eligibility to Income Support is assessed and payments are made in each local office of Benefits Agency in Scotland. The steps involved are set out in the booklet IS20, "A guide to Income Support". All aspects of appeals are handled by the Independent Tribunal Service.
Copies of all these documents are in the Library.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms Cunningham) of 6 July 1999,Official Report, columns 506–07, what were the total fixed costs for his Department in the UK; and if he will provide a breakdown by category of these costs for (a) his Department and (b) each relevant agency. [90928]
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§ Mr. TimmsThe information is not available in the format requested. The costs of administering the Department and its agencies are set out in the Social Security Departmental Report 1999–2000 (Cm 4214).