HC Deb 01 February 2001 vol 362 cc286-7W
Mr. Grieve

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total cost(a) of people receiving a means-tested benefit in Scotland, (b) of providing a means-tested benefit for people aged 15 to 25 in Scotland, (c) of providing a means-tested benefit for people aged 26 to 40 in Scotland and (d) of providing a means-tested benefit for people aged 41 to 65 in Scotland for each year since 1992 in cash terms and at 1999–2000 prices. [145649]

Angela Eagle

The information requested is in the tables.

Amount of means-tested benefits paid to people in Scotland by age
£ million
Year Total all ages Aged 15 to 25 26 Aged to 40 Aged 41 to 65
1992–93 2,434 388 817 664
1993–94 2,576 401 855 737
1994–95 2,713 393 933 765
1995–96 2,806 397 975 816
1996–97 2,758 382 967 808
1997–98 2,983 346 1,056 916
1998–99 2,944 337 1,027 917
1999–2000 2,941 325 999 943

Amount of means-tested benefits paid to people in Scotland by age, at 1999–2000 prices
£ million
Year Total all ages Aged 15 to 25 Aged 26 to 40 Aged 41 to 65
1992–93 2,913 464 977 795
1993–94 3,003 467 997 859
1994–95 3,119 451 1,073 879
1995–96 3,136 443 1,089 911
1996–97 2,986 414 1,046 875
1997–98 3,141 364 1,112 964
1998–99 3,013 345 1,051 939
1999–2000 2,941 325 999 943

Notes:

1. 'Means-tested benefits' are defined as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based), Family Credit, Disability Working Allowance, Housing Benefit, Community Charge Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

2. Figures are rounded to the nearest million.

3. Totals for all ages include recipients over age 65 and do not sum.

4. Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based), Family Credit, Housing Benefit, Community Charge Benefit and Council Tax Benefit estimates are based on caseload samples taken in May in each of the years and are subject to a degree of sampling error. Disability Working Allowance figures are based on a 100 per cent. scan of all Disability Working Allowance claimants.

5. Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) replaced Income Support for the unemployed from October 1996.

6. Community Charge Benefit was replaced by Council Tax Benefit from April 1993.

7. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit from October 1999.

8. Disability Working Allowance was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit from October 1999.

9. Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit figures include all local authority spending on benefit payments in addition to the money funded directly from Central Government.

10. The latest GDP deflator was used in the calculation of the amounts of benefits in real terms.

Sources:

Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1992 to May 1999.

Jobseeker's Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1997 to May 1999.

Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent.

sample inquiries, May 1992 to May 1999.

Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.

Departmental Report 2000.

Pre-Budget Report 2000.

Mr. Grieve

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Scotland were in receipt of means-tested benefit in Scotland,(a) aged 15 to 25, (b) aged 26 to 40, (c) aged 41 to 65 and (d) in total for each year since 1992. [145650]

Angela Eagle

The information is in the table.

Number of means-tested benefits recipients by age of claimant in Scotland, 1992–99
Thousand
year Total all ages 15 to 25 26 to 40 41 to 65
1992 930 130 210 240
1993 900 130 220 240
1994 890 120 220 240
1995 890 120 230 240
1996 890 120 230 250
1997 860 100 230 250
1998 840 90 230 250
1999 830 90 220 250

Notes:

1. 'Means-tested benefits' are defined as Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based), Family Credit, Disability Working Allowance, Housing Benefit, Community Charge Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

2. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten thousand.

3. Recipients of more than one benefit have been counted only once.

4. Figures do not include dependent members of a claimant's family.

5. Totals for all ages include recipients over age 65 and do not sum.

6. Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based), Family Credit, Housing Benefit, Community Charge Benefit and Council Tax Benefit estimates are based on caseload samples taken in May in each of the years and are subject to a degree of sampling error. Disability Working Allowance figures are based on a 100 per cent. scan of all Disability Working Allowance claimants.

7. Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based) replaced Income Support for the unemployed from October 1996.

8. Community Charge Benefit was replaced by Council Tax Benefit from April 1993.

9. Family Credit was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit from October 1999.

10. Disability Working Allowance was replaced by Working Families Tax Credit from October 1999.

Sources:

Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1992 to May 1999.

Jobseekers Allowance Quarterly Statistical Enquiries, May 1997 to May 1999.

Family Credit 5 per cent. sample of awards.

Housing Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent.

sample enquiries, May 1992 to May 1999.

Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.