§ Mr. Edward DaveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many(a) national insurance number applications and (b) benefit applications are awaiting processing due to delays in clarification being received by the Benefits Agency from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate; and if he will make a statement. [116078]
§ Angela EagleThe administration of benefits 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. Edward Davey, dated 30 March 2000:
The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) national insurance number (NINO) applications and (b) benefit applications are awaiting processing due to delays in clarification being received by the Benefits Agency (BA) from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND).BA allocate, when necessary, a NINO to a benefit applicant. The process rarely requires any contact with or information from the IND.Information on the number of benefit applications awaiting clarification from IND is not held. Collation of these statistics would involve a sift of files held at over 400 offices and would entail disproportionate cost.