HC Deb 31 March 2003 vol 402 cc602-3W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will update the table on the number of households claiming means-tested benefits set out on 28 February 2001,Official Report, column 697W, broken down by household type and the number of children. [95226]

Malcolm Wicks

Updated estimates for the number of families claiming income-related benefits are in the table.

Random audit is carried out before reports are sent to decision makers and any audited report found not fit for purpose is corrected before being submitted to the decision maker.

The figures for each year are:

Number of C grades
September 1998 to August 1999 1,670
September 1999 to August 2000 1,590
September 2000 to August 2001 1,165
September 2001 to August 2002 709
September 2002 to February 2003 306

The information requested in relation to the number of C grade reports judged to be fit for purpose is not available. SchlumbergerSema Medical Services do not keep records of this information.