HL Deb 25 July 2000 vol 616 c33WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept the finding in paragraph 83 of the Audit Commission report Another Country that the average time taken for asylum seekers who have received a positive decision on their claim to gain access to social security benefits is four to six weeks and that the main reason is delay in obtaining National Insurance numbers; and if they do not accept this claim, what they consider is the average time, and on what information they base their consideration. [HL3324]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)

I am not able to comment on the figures quoted by the Audit Commission in paragraph 83 because the Benefits Agency (BA) does not collect this information by client group. However, information on clearance times for claims is collected by benefit type. Claims target and performance figures for the 1999–2000 year for mainstream benefits are:

Target Performance
Income Support 87 per cent in 13 days 87.2 per cent
Jobseekers' Allowance 90 per cent in 21 days 97 per cent
Incapacity Benefit 85 per cent in 30 days 93.1 per cent

The Benefits Agency is aware that there have been some delays in the allocation of National Insurance Numbers (NINOs), but is taking steps to eliminate these delays. Additional resources were made available across the BA this year to enhance the process. Implementation begins this month, July 2000.

Meanwhile local offices have been issued with guidance on making interim payments in circumstances where a NINO cannot be immediately allocated and where the BA is satisfied that a person is who he says he is.