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Social Security Benefits Agency
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases have been referred by Members of the Scottish Parliament to the Scottish Parliamentary Liaison Unit of the Benefits Agency (a) directly and (b) indirectly; how many people are employed by the Scottish Parliamentary Liaison Unit of the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases have been referred by Members of the Scottish Parliament to the Scottish Parliamentary Liaison Unit of the Benefits Agency (a) directly and (b) indirectly; how many people are employed by the Scottish Parliamentary Liaison Unit of the...
Asked by
Angus Robertson
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Nicholas Brown
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
21 November 2001
For answer on
27 November 2001
Answered on
27 November 2001
Subjects
Correspondence; Staff; Scotland; Social Security Benefits Agency; Scottish Parliament members
Date
27 November 2001
Reference
375 c826-7W; 18228;18229;18230
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many lone parents in (a) Iverclyde and (b) Scotland are in receipt of income support; and what the comparable figures were for (i) 1994 and (ii) 1997. - Inc text of letter and figures from Alexis Cleveland of Benefits Agency.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many lone parents in (a) Iverclyde and (b) Scotland are in receipt of income support; and what the comparable figures were for (i) 1994 and (ii) 1997. - Inc text of letter and figures from Alexis Cleveland of Benefits Agency.
Asked by
Norman A Godman
(Labour)
Answered by
Hugh Bayley
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
21 December 2000
For answer on
22 January 2001
Answered on
22 January 2001
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents in (a) Iverclyde and (b) Scotland are in receipt
of income support; and what the comparable figures were for (i) 1994 and (ii) 1997. [144501]
Mr. Bayley: The administration of Income Support is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, Mrs. Alexis Cleveland.
She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Dr. Norman Godman, dated 18 January 2001:
The Parliamentary Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to respond to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how
many lone parents in (a) Inverclyde and (b) Scotland are in receipt of income support; and what the comparable figures were for (i)
1994 and (ii) 1997.
The information available is in the table set out below.
Lone Parents in receipt of Income Support in Scotland, and Inverclyde, August 1994, August 1997 and August 2000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Number of claimants August 1994 Number of claimants August 1997 Number of claimants August 2000
Scotland 97,800 95,000 83,100
Inverclyde Local Authority {1}-- 2,100 1,700
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
{1} Not available. Notes: 1. Based on 5 per cent. sample therefore subject to sampling error. 2. Lone Parents are defined as single
claimants with dependants not receiving the disability or pensioner premiums. 3. Cases are allocated to each Local
Authority/Government Office Region by matching the postcode against the appropriate version of the 1995 to 2000 Office of National
Statistics (ONS) Directories.
I hope this is helpful.
Subjects
Income support; Recipients; Lone parents; Scotland; Social security benefits; Inverclyde
Date
22 January 2001
Reference
361 c466W;361 c467W; 144501
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people have applied for money from the Social Fund and how much money was issued in loans through the Social Fund, in each of the last three years in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) North-West England....
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many people have applied for money from the Social Fund and how much money was issued in loans through the Social Fund, in each of the last three years in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) North-West England....
Asked by
Jim Dobbin
(Labour)
Answered by
Angela Eagle
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Social Security
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
18 April 2000
For answer on
10 May 2000
Answered on
10 May 2000
Mr. Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have applied for money from the Social Fund and how
much money was issued in loans through the Social Fund, in each of the last three years in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and
(d) North-West England. [120099]
Angela Eagle: The administration of the Social Fund is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency.
She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Jim Dobbin, dated 9 May 2000:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people have
applied for money from the Social Fund and how much money was issued in loans through the Social Fund, in each of the last three
years in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) North-West England.
The figures are included in the attached table.
I hope this is helpful.
Social Fund loan applications received and amount paid in each of the last three years in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and
(d) North-West England
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Loan applications received Amount awarded (£)
Scotland
1997-98 416,440 45,723,467
1998-99 451,166 52,116,199
1999-2000 540,568 62,531,213
Wales
1997-98 141,528 21,383,254
1998-99 145,645 24,235,488
1999-2000 179,046 28,263,893
England
1997-98 1,829,400 297,931,497
1998-99 1,865,090 326,829,719
1999-2000 2,254,049 366,347,142
North-West England
1997-98 369,604 53,248,210
1998-99 385,715 60,206,891
1999-2000 478,177 75,569,806
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Notes: 1. Figures show the total number of all applications for budgeting loans and crisis loans. Individual customers may have made
more than one application. 2. North-West England is defined as the area covered by the Benefits Agency Area Directorates 8
(North-West Coast) and 9 (Greater Manchester). 3. Some loans paid clerically, and adjustments between awards of loans and grants on
review, are not recorded on the computer system. The figures do not therefore add up to total loans awarded for each year as
published in the Social Fund Accounts. 4. 1999-2000 expenditure is provisional pending publication of the Social Fund Account.
Subjects
Applications; Loans; Wales; Scotland; Social Fund; North West
Date
10 May 2000
Reference
349 c411-2W; 120099
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many visiting officers there are in each Benefits Agency in Scotland; what was the cost of travel and subsistence for officers based in Edinburgh visiting clients throughout the rest of Scotland for each of the last three years; how many...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many visiting officers there are in each Benefits Agency in Scotland; what was the cost of travel and subsistence for officers based in Edinburgh visiting clients throughout the rest of Scotland for each of the last three years; how many...
Asked by
Andrew Welsh
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Angela Eagle
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
23 March 2000
For answer on
29 March 2000
Answered on
29 March 2000
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many visiting officers there are in each Benefits Agency in
Scotland; [116558]
(2) what was the cost of travel and subsistence for officers based in Edinburgh visiting clients throughout the rest of Scotland for
each of the last three years; how many visits were involved and to what destinations. [116521]
Angela Eagle: This 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. Andrew Welsh, dated 28 March 2000:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking for the cost of travel and subsistence
for officers based in Edinburgh visiting clients throughout the rest of Scotland for each of the last three years; how many visits
were involved and to what destinations. Also, how many visiting officers there are in each Benefits Agency (BA) office in Scotland.
The BA does not hold data on the cost of travel and subsistence by geographical location. Most visiting officers are based in
District Offices and do not make visits outside their home areas. Officers based in Edinburgh who visit customers outside the
Edinburgh area provide the Benefits Agency's Out of Hours Service (OOHS) and the Benefit Fraud Investigation Service (BFIS). Their
travel and subsistence costs cannot be broken down for visiting officers as they are aggregated across the Agency. Figures would
include travel for other official duties such as training courses and meetings.
The Disability Carer Benefits Directorate (DCBD) has calculated travel and subsistence costs of £8976.24, for the period from April
1999 to date, for their officers in Edinburgh visiting customers throughout Scotland.
The BA does not hold information centrally on the number of visits and destinations. These figures could only be obtained at
disproportionate cost by manually counting entries in visiting officer's diaries.
The number of visiting officers based in Scotland is as follows:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Number
Benefits Agency District Officers 352
DCBD (Disability Benefits Centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow) 13
Benefit Fraud Investigation Service 275
Benefits Agency Security Investigation Service (Organised Fraud) 16
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
I hope this is helpful.
Subjects
Applications; Staff; Scotland; Social security benefits; Social Security Benefits Agency; Visits
Date
29 March 2000
Reference
347 c166-7W; 116558;116521
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners have benefited from a winter fuel payment this winter; and how many times the weather conditions activated a payment to be made for (a) Gordon constituency, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Scotland. - Inc tables, figures and text of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioners have benefited from a winter fuel payment this winter; and how many times the weather conditions activated a payment to be made for (a) Gordon constituency, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Scotland. - Inc tables, figures and text of...
Asked by
Lord Bruce of Bennachie
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Rooker
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
17 February 2000
For answer on
28 February 2000
Answered on
28 February 2000
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners have benefited from a winter fuel payment
this winter; and how many times the weather conditions activated a payment to be made for (a) Gordon constituency, (b) Aberdeenshire
and (c) Scotland. [111490]
Mr. Rooker: The hon. Member will be aware that Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments are different benefits. As the
administration of benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency, he will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 22 February 2000:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking how many pensioners have benefited from a
winter fuel payment this winter; and how many times the weather conditions activated a payment to be made for (a) Gordon
constituency, (b) Aberdeenshire and (c) Scotland.
Winter fuel payments were introduced in the winter of 1997/98 for an initial two years. The Government subsequently decided to
continue the scheme, and in addition, increased the amount of the payment to £100 for every eligible household. Delivery of this
winter's payments was broadly similar to the last two winters, other than the payments were made before the new year, with the
Generalised Matching Service being used to compare addresses to determine whether £50 or £100 was payable to eligible non Income
Support/Income based Jobseekers Allowance pensioners. Eligibility is not determined by the severity of the weather conditions.
Where official records showed more than one eligible pensioner as living at an address, each received £50. Other eligible pensioners
received £100. Determining the correct amount of payment involved the cross matching of around 13 million records on 8 benefit
systems.
In Great Britain a total of 10.2 million pensioners in over 7.5 million households received a Winter Fuel Payment. In Scotland
905,638 pensioners received a payment. The Benefits Agency does not keep statistics in exactly the format you require. However,
according to available information the constituencies in Aberdeenshire are Banff & Buchan, Gordon, Aberdeen Central, Aberdeen North,
Aberdeen South and West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine, though their boundaries may not exactly match. The attached table shows payments
issued to customers in each of the constituencies.
Cold Weather Payments (CWP) are however dependent on the severity of the weather and are paid to people in receipt of Income Support
or Income-based Jobseekers' Allowance who have a pensioner or disability premium, or a child under 5 in the household. A CWP is
currently £8.50. No separate claim is needed for a CWP.
CWPs are triggered if the temperature has been recorded as an average of 0{o}C or below over any seven consecutive days, or a
forecast shows the temperature is likely to average 0{o}C or below oever the next seven days, for a weather station area. The
payment process can start without awaiting actual recorded temperatures. Payments are not recalled if a forecast is not confirmed by
recorded data.
Again BA does not keep information in the format requested but we are able to provide numbers of estimated qualifiers by weather
station (and linked postcodes), and actual payments by BA Districts.
Because of the way in which information is held in respect of Cold Weather Payments, we are unable to identify pensioners as a
specific group. Therefore, any information provided refers to all customers, i.e. people who are entitled to IS or JSA(IB) for one
day in the period of cold weather, and who receive one of the qualifying premiums (Pensioner, Higher Pensioners, Enhanced Pensioner,
Disability, Severe Disability, Disabled Child), or, an amount for a dependent child under five.
So far this winter, periods of cold weather have been declared and payments made as shown in the attached tables.
I hope this is helpful.
Weather Stations
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Weather station Dates Estimated qualifiers Districts affected
Aviemore 12 December 1999-18 December 929 Grampian and Shetlands,
1999{F} Highlands and Islands,Tayside
19 December 1999-25 December -- --
1999{F}
Braemar 12 December 1999-18 December 54 Grampian and Shetlands
1999{F}
19 December 1999-25 December -- --
1999{F}
27 December 1999-2 January 2000 -- --
Eskdalemuir 15 December 1999-21 December 3,723 East Edinburgh and Borders,
1999{F} North Cumbria, South West
Scotland
Loch Glascarnoch 12 December 1999-18 December 430 Highlands and Islands
1999{F}
19 December 1999-25 December -- --
1999{F}
14 February 2000-2 February -- --
2000{R}
Salsburgh 18 December 1999-24 December 10,884 East Edinburgh & Borders,
1999{F} Glasgow South, Lanarkshire
Tulloch Bridge 15 December 1999-21 December 1,968 Argyll and West, Highlands and
1999{F} Islands, Tayside
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
{F} -- forecast {R} -- recorded
Total payments this winter so far (by district and cold weather period)
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
District CWP period payment run (week Automated payments (£) Number of payments
ending)
Argyll and West 17 December 1999 620.50 73
East Edinburgh and Borders 17 December 1999 21,250.00 2,500
23 December 1999 3,799.50 447
Glasgow South 23 December 1999 2,924.00 344
Grampian and Shetlands 17 December 1999 4,284.00 504
23 December 1999 4,275.50 503
6 January 2000 450.50 53
Highlands and Islands 17 December 1999 14,441.50 1,699
23 December 1999 4,088.50 481
Lanarkshire 17 December 1999 2,014.50 237
23 December 1999 79,288.00 9,328
North Cumbria 17 December 1999 17.00 2
South West Scotland 17 December 1999 7,089.00 834
Tayside 17 December 1999 8,806.00 1,036
23 December 1999 178.50 21
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Note: Total automated payments are noted. We do not yet have total clerical payments. The latest trigger at Loch Glascarnoch in not
included.
Winter fuel payments issued-Period of time Winter 1999-00
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Constituency Number of payments made
Banff and Buchan 12,178
Gordon 11,945
Aberdeen Central 11,041
Aberdeen North 10,627
Aberdeen South 13,970
West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 11,245
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Subjects
Cold weather payments; Pensioners; Scotland; Winter fuel payment; Gordon; Aberdeenshire
Date
28 February 2000
Reference
345 c167-9W; 111490
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Benefit Agency office would handle the (a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility to claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal of the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of over-paid benefit for...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Benefit Agency office would handle the (a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility to claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal of the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of over-paid benefit for...
Asked by
Andrew Welsh
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Stephen Timms
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 July 1999
For answer on
27 July 1999
Answered on
27 July 1999
Subjects
Disability living allowance; Appeals; Advisory services; Jobseeker's allowance; Eligibility; Family credit; Incapacity benefit; Glasgow; Edinburgh; Overpayments; Payments; Scotland; Social security; Social security benefits; Social Security Benefits Agency; Dundee; Greenock; Inverness; Arbroath
Date
27 July 1999
Reference
336 c292-3W; 92348;92349;92350;92351
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Benefit Agency office would handle the (a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility to claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal of the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of over-paid benefit for...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Benefit Agency office would handle the (a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility to claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal of the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of over-paid benefit for...
Asked by
John Swinney
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Stephen Timms
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 July 1999
For answer on
27 July 1999
Answered on
27 July 1999
Subjects
Disability living allowance; Appeals; Advisory services; Jobseeker's allowance; Eligibility; Family credit; Incapacity benefit; Glasgow; Edinburgh; Overpayments; Payments; Scotland; Social security; Social security benefits; Social Security Benefits Agency; Inverness; Blairgowrie; Duns
Date
27 July 1999
Reference
336 c290-2W; 92354;92352;92353;92355
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Benefits Agency office would handle (a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility to claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal relating to the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of over-paid benefit for...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Benefits Agency office would handle (a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility to claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal relating to the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of over-paid benefit for...
Asked by
Roseanna Cunningham
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Stephen Timms
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 July 1999
For answer on
27 July 1999
Answered on
27 July 1999
Subjects
Disability living allowance; Appeals; Advisory services; Jobseeker's allowance; Eligibility; Family credit; Incapacity benefit; Glasgow; Edinburgh; Overpayments; Payments; Scotland; Social security; Social security benefits; Social Security Benefits Agency; Perth; Greenock; Inverness
Date
27 July 1999
Reference
336 c288-9W; 92392;92393
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Benefit Agency office would handle the (a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility to claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal of the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of over-paid benefit for...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, which Benefit Agency office would handle the (a) provision of advice and information, (b) assessment of eligibility to claim, (c) review of the claim, (d) appeal of the claim, (e) payment of the benefit and (f) recovery of over-paid benefit for...
Asked by
Alex Salmond
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Stephen Timms
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 July 1999
For answer on
27 July 1999
Answered on
27 July 1999
Subjects
Disability living allowance; Appeals; Advisory services; Jobseeker's allowance; Eligibility; Family credit; Incapacity benefit; Overpayments; Payments; Scotland; Social security; Social security benefits; Social Security Benefits Agency
Date
27 July 1999
Reference
336 c289-90W; 92380;92382;92384;92386;92387;92381;92383;92385
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will provide a breakdown of cold weather payments paid in Scotland in 1998-99. - Inc figures, table and text of letter from Peter Mathison of the Benefits Agency.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will provide a breakdown of cold weather payments paid in Scotland in 1998-99. - Inc figures, table and text of letter from Peter Mathison of the Benefits Agency.
Asked by
Edward O'Hara
(Labour)
Answered by
Angela Eagle
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
22 July 1999
For answer on
27 July 1999
Answered on
27 July 1999
Mr. O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown of cold weather payments paid in
Scotland in 1998-99. [93502]
Angela Eagle: The administration of cold weather payments 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. Eddie O'Hara, dated 27 July 1999:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if he will provide a breakdown of cold weather payments
paid in Scotland in 1998-99.
During the 1998-99 winter in Scotland there were 11 occasions when cold weather payments were triggered. This resulted in the issue
of 11,293 payments, totalling £95,990.50. Details are provided in the attached table.
I hope this is helpful.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Weather station Postcode districts BA districts affected Period of trigger(s)
Aviemore AB31, AB33, AB34, AB36-37, Grampian & Shetland 13/11/98-19/11/98
PH18-26
Highlands & Islands 06/01/99-12/01/99
Tayside 07/02/99-13/02/99
Braemar AB35 Grampian & Shetland 13/11/98-19/11/98
12/01/99-18/01/99
07/02/99-13/02/99
Lerwick ZE1-3 Grampian & Shetland 05/02/99-11/02/99
Loch Glascarnoch IV3-4, IV6, IV23-24 Highlands & Islands 06/01/99-12/01/99
07/02/99-13/02/99
Tulloch Bridge PA33, PA35-36, PA38-40, PH8-11, Argyll & West 06/01/99-12/01/99
PH15-17, PH30-35, PH37
Highlands & Islands 04/02/99-10/02/99
Tayside
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Subjects
Scotland; Winter fuel payment; Social Security Benefits Agency
Date
27 July 1999
Reference
93502; 336 c294W;336 c294-5W
House
House of Commons
To 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) severe disablement allowance, (b) maternity allowance, (c) industrial injuries disablement allowance, (d) reduced earnings allowance/retirement allowance, (e) attendance allowance and (f) disability working allowance;...
To 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) severe disablement allowance, (b) maternity allowance, (c) industrial injuries disablement allowance, (d) reduced earnings allowance/retirement allowance, (e) attendance allowance and (f) disability working allowance;...
Asked by
Alex Salmond
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Stephen Timms
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
19 July 1999
For answer on
27 July 1999
Answered on
27 July 1999
Mr. Salmond: To 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) severe disablement allowance, (b) maternity allowance, (c) industrial injuries
disablement allowance, (d) reduced earnings allowance/retirement allowance, (e) attendance allowance and (f) disability working
allowance; indicating which of the offices of his Department and his agencies in Scotland would handle each of these steps.
[92356]
Mr. Timms: The 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. Alex Salmond, dated 26 July 1999:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question asking if he will list the procedural steps for assessing
eligibility, reviewing, appealing and making payment of (a) Severe Disablement Allowance, (b) Maternity Allowance, (c) Industrial
Injuries Disablement Allowance, (d) Reduced Earnings Allowance/ Retirement Allowance, (e) Attendance Allowance and (f) Disability
Working Allowance; indicating which of the offices of his Department and his agencies in Scotland would handle each of these steps.
Applications advice and information for all of the above benefits can be obtained from each local office of the Benefits Agency in
Scotland.
The procedural steps on a claim including those for assessment, reviews, appeals and payments are set out in the following booklets,
NI252 "Severe Disablement Allowance", NI17A "A Guide to Maternity Benefits", NI6 "Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit", HB5 "A
guide to Non-Contributory Benefits for Disabled People" and HB4 "A Guide to Disability Working Allowance".
Copies of all of these documents are in the House library.
All aspects of appeals are handled by the Independent Tribunal Service.
I hope this is helpful.
Subjects
Appeals; Disability working allowance; Attendance allowance; Eligibility; Payments; Reduced earnings allowance; Maternity benefits; Scotland; Social security; Social security benefits; Industrial injuries disablement benefit; Severe disablement allowance; Retirement allowance
Date
27 July 1999
Reference
92356; 336 c287-8W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth, of 2nd July, Official Report, 334 c305-7W, if he will indicate the (i) number of staff employed, (ii) wage costs and (iii) running costs of each of the branch network offices...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth, of 2nd July, Official Report, 334 c305-7W, if he will indicate the (i) number of staff employed, (ii) wage costs and (iii) running costs of each of the branch network offices...
Asked by
Andrew Welsh
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Stephen Timms
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
8 July 1999
For answer on
16 July 1999
Answered on
16 July 1999
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms Cunningham) of
2 July 1999, Official Report, columns 305-07, if he will indicate the (i) number of staff employed, (ii) wage costs and (iii)
running costs of each of the branch network offices of the Benefits Agency in the North East of Scotland Region. [91201]
Mr. Timms: The administration of the Benefits Agency 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. Andrew Welsh, dated 15 July 1999:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question asking, pursuant to his answer of 2 July to the honourable
Member for Perth, if he will indicate the (i) number of staff employed, (ii) wage costs and (iii) running costs of each of the
branch network offices of the Benefits Agency (BA) in the North East of Scotland Region.
The number of staff employed in each BA office within North East of Scotland, is as follows:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Office District Staff
Peterhead Grampian and Shetland 64
Aberdeen Grampian and Shetland 236
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Data on wage and running costs cannot be provided by individual office. Costs are calculated on a District basis. That information
is provided for the District within Area Directorates 12 and 13 which cover Scotland. Please see the attached tables covering the
1998-99 financial year.
I hope this information is helpful.
AD12
£
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Expenditure
Salaries Goods/services Estate costs Sub-total CSUS District spend
GLW North 8,403,000 649,000 2,757,000 3,406,000 -- 11,809,000
GLW South 9,990,000 787,000 2,470,000 3,257,000 -- 13,247,000
GLW East 5,399,000 444,000 1,609,000 2,053,000 -- 7,452,000
Argyll and West 6,181,000 610,000 1,866,000 2,476,000 -- 8,657,000
Highlands and Islands 4,966,000 587,000 1,428,000 2,015,000 -- 6,981,000
SW Scotland 8,071,000 895,000 2,023,000 2,918,000 -- 10,989,000
Clyde Coast and Renfrew 7,121,000 563,000 1,918,000 2,481,000 -- 9,602,000
Other 6,718,000 5,835,000 375,000 6,210,000 -- 12,928,000
Total 56,849,000 10,370,000 14,446,000 24,816,000 35,703,000 117,368,000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Notes: Other: This covers all expenditure on Centralised Area Teams, Accommodation and Office Services and Central Support Unit
Scotland Central Services: This covers all Operational Support Directorate and centrally funded projects costs
AD13
£
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Expenditure
Salaries Goods/services Estate costs Sub-total CSUS District spend
East Edinburgh and 7,090,000 659,000 730,000 1,389,000 -- 8,479,000
Borders
Lothian West and North 5,709,000 546,000 1,606,000 2,152,000 -- 7,861,000
Edinburgh
Fife 5,072,000 539,000 1,506,000 2,045,000 -- 7,117,000
Tayside 6,077,000 599,000 1,738,000 2,337,000 -- 8,414,000
Grampian and Shetland 4,616,000 577,000 1,336,000 1,913,000 -- 6,529,000
Lanarkshire 8,870,000 822,000 2,793,000 3,615,000 -- 12,485,000
Forth Valley 4,260,000 525,000 1,205,000 1,730,000 -- 5,990,000
Other 1,585,000 904,000 2,458,000 3,362,000 -- 4,947,000
Total 43,279,000 5,171,000 13,372,000 18,543,000 -- 61,822,000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Note: Other: This covers all expenditure on Area Personnel Unit, Area Director's Support Team and secondment and voluntary early
retirement
Subjects
Civil servants; Pay; Staff; Scotland; Social Security Benefits Agency; Operating costs
Date
16 July 1999
Reference
91201; 335 c349-50W;335 c351W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 2nd July , Official Report, columns 305-7, if he will list the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch network...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 2nd July , Official Report, columns 305-7, if he will list the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch network...
Asked by
Margaret Ewing
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Stephen Timms
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 July 1999
For answer on
15 July 1999
Answered on
15 July 1999
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms Cunningham)
of 2 July 1999, Official Report, columns 305-07, if he will list the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running
costs of each of the branch network offices of the Benefits Agency in the Highland Region and the Western and Northern Isles.
[90927]
Mr. Timms: The administration of Benefits Agency offices 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 Mrs. Margaret Ewing, dated 14 July 1999:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question, pursuant to his answer of 2 July to the honourable Member for
Perth, if he will list the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch network offices
of the Benefits Agency (BA) in the Highland Region and the Western and Northern Isles.
The number of staff employed by the BA within the Highlands Western and Northern Isles is attached at appendix A. Data on wage and
running costs cannot be provided by individual site. Costs are calculated on a district basis. That information is provided for the
districts within Area Directorates 12 and 13 which cover Scotland. Please see the attached tables covering the 1998/99 financial
year (see appendix B).
I hope this information is helpful.
Appendix A
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Office BA district Staff
Benbecula Highlands and Islands 1
Buckie Highlands and Islands 5
Dingwall Highlands and Islands 1
Elgin Highlands and Islands 79
Fort William Highlands and Islands 26
Invergordon Highlands and Islands 3
Inverness Highlands and Islands 155
Kirkwall Highlands and Islands 11
Nairn Highlands and Islands 1
Portree Highlands and Islands 1
Stornoway Highlands and Islands 41
Thurso Highlands and Islands 1
Wick Highlands and Islands 41
Lerwick Grampian and Shetland 20
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Appendix B: AD12
£
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Expenditure
Salaries Goods/services Estate costs Sub-total CSUS District spend
GLW North 8,403,000 649,000 2,757,000 3,406,000 -- 11,809,000
GLW South 9,990,000 787,000 2,470,000 3,257,000 -- 13,247,000
GLW East 5,399,000 444,000 1,609,000 2,053,000 -- 7,452,000
Argyll and West 6,181,000 610,000 1,866,000 2,476,000 -- 8,657,000
Highlands and Islands 4,966,000 587,000 1,428,000 2,015,000 -- 6,981,000
South West Scotland 8,071,000 895,000 2,023,000 2,918,000 -- 10,989,000
Clyde Coast and Renfrew 7,121,000 563,000 1,918,000 2,481,000 -- 9,602,000
Other 6,718,000 5,835,000 375,000 6,210,000 -- 12,928,000
Total 56,849,000 10,370,000 14,446,000 24,816,000 35,703,000 117,368,000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Notes: Other--This covers all expenditure on Centralised Area Teams, Accommodation and Office Services and Central Support Unit
Scotland Central Services--This covers all Operational Support Directorate and centrally funded projects costs
Appendix B: AD13
£
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Expenditure
Salaries Goods/services Estate costs Sub-total CSUS District spend
East Edinburgh and 7,090,000 659,000 730,000 1,389,000 -- 8,479,000
Borders
Lothian West and North 5,709,000 546,000 1,606,000 2,152,000 -- 7,861,000
Edinburgh
Fife 5,072,000 539,000 1,506,000 2,045,000 -- 7,117,000
Tayside 6,077,000 599,000 1,738,000 2,337,000 -- 8,414,000
Grampian and Shetland 4,616,000 577,000 1,336,000 1,913,000 -- 6,529,000
Lanarkshire 8,870,000 822,000 2,793,000 3,615,000 -- 12,485,000
Forth Valley 4,260,000 525,000 1,205,000 1,730,000 -- 5,990,000
Other 1,585,000 904,000 2,458,000 3,362,000 -- 4,947,000
Total 43,279,000 5,171,000 13,372,000 18,543,000 -- 61,822,000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Note: Other--This covers all expenditure on Area Personnel Unit, Area Director's Support Team and secondment and voluntary early
retirement
Subjects
Costs; Highlands of Scotland; Pay; Staff; Offices; Scotland; Social Security Benefits Agency; Operating costs
Date
15 July 1999
Reference
90927; 335 c305-7W;335 c307-9W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 2nd July, Official Report, columns 305-7, if he will list the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch network offices...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 2nd July, Official Report, columns 305-7, if he will list the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch network offices...
Asked by
John Swinney
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Stephen Timms
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 July 1999
For answer on
15 July 1999
Answered on
15 July 1999
Mr. Swinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms Cunningham)
of 2 July 1999, Official Report, columns 305-07, if he will list the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running
costs of each of the branch network offices of the Benefits Agency in the Mid Scotland and Fife Region. [90791]
Mr. Timms: The administration of Benefits Agency offices 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. John Swinney, dated 14 July 1999:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question asking, pursuant to his answer to the honourable Member for
Perth of 2 July, if he will list the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch
network offices of the Benefits Agency (BA) in the Mid Scotland and Fife Region.
The number of staff employed in each BA office within Mid-Scotland and Fife is contained in a table attached at appendix A.
Data on wage and running costs cannot be provided by individual office. Costs are calculated on a district basis. That information
is provided for the districts within Area Directorates 12 and 13 which cover Scotland. Please see the attached tables covering the
1998/99 financial year (appendix B).
I hope this information is helpful.
Appendix A
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Office BA district Staff
Springburn Glasgow North 193
Maryhill Glasgow North 89
City Glasgow North 135
Cumbernauld Glasgow North 88
Cranstonhill Glasgow North 48
Paisley Clyde Coast and Renfrew 284
Johnstone Clyde Coast and Renfrew 7
Greenock Clyde Coast and Renfrew 189
Port Glasgow Clyde Coast and Renfrew 35
Largs Clyde Coast and Renfrew 5
Rothesay Clyde Coast and Renfrew 4
Dunoon Clyde Coast and Renfrew 6
Renfrew Clyde Coast and Renfrew 3
Anniesland Argyll and West 132
Partick Argyll and West 78
Clydebank Argyll and West 168
Dumbarton Argyll and West 12
Alexandria Argyll and West 1
Campbeltown Argyll and West 18
Oban Argyll and West 23
Laurieston Glasgow South 229
Newlands Glasgow South 214
East Kilbride Glasgow South 110
Pollok Glasgow South 18
Craigton Glasgow South 23
Rutherglen Glasgow South 18
Shettleston Glasgow East 145
Provan Glasgow East 90
Bridgeton Glasgow East 124
Dundee Tayside 234
Perth Tayside 93
Arbroath Tayside 83
Dunbermline Fife 84
Kirkcaldy Fife 131
Cowdenbeath Fife 61
Leven Fife 58
Falkirk Forth Valley 138
Stirling Forth Valley 148
Bellshill Lanarkshire 97
Coatbridge Lanarkshire 144
Hamilton Lanarkshire 158
Motherwell Lanarkshire 157
Airdrie Lanarkshire 17
Shotts Lanarkshire 4
Edinburgh Edinburgh and Borders 236
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Appendix B: AD12
£
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Expenditure
Salaries Goods/services Estate costs Sub-total CSUS District spend
GLW North 8,403,000 649,000 2,757,000 3,406,000 -- 11,809,000
GLW South 9,990,000 787,000 2,470,000 3,257,000 -- 13,247,000
GLW East 5,399,000 444,000 1,609,000 2,053,000 -- 7,452,000
Argyll and West 6,181,000 610,000 1,866,000 2,476,000 -- 8,657,000
Highlands and Islands 4,966,000 587,000 1,428,000 2,015,000 -- 6,981,000
SW Scotland 8,071,000 895,000 2,023,000 2,918,000 -- 10,989,000
Clyde Coast and Renfrew 7,121,000 563,000 1,918,000 2,481,000 -- 9,602,000
Other 6,718,000 5,835,000 375,000 6,210,000 -- 12,928,000
Total 56,849,000 10,370,000 14,446,000 24,816,000 35,703,000 117,368,000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Notes: Other--This covers all expenditure on Centralised Area Teams, Accommodation and Office Services and Central Support Unit
Scotland Central Services--This covers all Operational Support Directorate and centrally funded projects costs
Appendix B: AD13
£
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Expenditure
Salaries Goods/services Estate costs Sub-total CSUS District spend
East Edinburgh and 7,090,000 659,000 730,000 1,389,000 -- 8,479,000
Borders
Lothian West and North 5,709,000 546,000 1,606,000 2,152,000 -- 7,861,000
Edinburgh
Fife 5,072,000 539,000 1,506,000 2,045,000 -- 7,117,000
Tayside 6,077,000 599,000 1,738,000 2,337,000 -- 8,414,000
Grampian and Shetland 4,616,000 577,000 1,336,000 1,913,000 -- 6,529,000
Lanarkshire 8,870,000 822,000 2,793,000 3,615,000 -- 12,485,000
Forth Valley 4,260,000 525,000 1,205,000 1,730,000 -- 5,990,000
Other 1,585,000 904,000 2,458,000 3,362,000 -- 4,947,000
Total 43,279,000 5,171,000 13,372,000 18,543,000 -- 61,822,000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Note: Other--This covers all expenditure on Area Personnel Unit, Area Director's Support Team and secondment and voluntary early
retirement
Subjects
Costs; Pay; Staff; Offices; Scotland; Social Security Benefits Agency; Operating costs
Date
15 July 1999
Reference
90791; 335 c303-6W;335 c305-7W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 2nd July, Official Report, columns 305-7, if he will indicate the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch network offices...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Perth of 2nd July, Official Report, columns 305-7, if he will indicate the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of each of the branch network offices...
Asked by
Alasdair Morgan
(Scottish National Party)
Answered by
Stephen Timms
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
7 July 1999
For answer on
15 July 1999
Answered on
15 July 1999
Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Perth (Ms
Cunningham) of 2 July 1999, Official Report, columns 305-07, if he will indicate the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs
and (c) running costs of each of the branch network offices of the Benefits Agency in the South of Scotland Region. [90790]
Mr. Timms: The administration of Benefits Agency offices 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. Alasdair Morgan, dated 14 July 1999:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question asking, pursuant to his answer to the honourable Member for
Perth of 2 July, to indicate the (a) number of staff employed, (b) wage costs and (c) running costs of the branch network offices of
the Benefits Agency (BA) in the South of Scotland Region.
The number of staff employed by the BA within the South of Scotland is attached at appendix A.
Data on wage and running costs cannot be provided by individual office. Costs are calculated on a District basis. That information
is therefore provided for the Districts within Area Directorates 12 and 13 which cover Scotland. Please see the attached tables
covering the 1998-99 financial year.
I hope this information is helpful.
Appendix A
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Office BA district Staff
Ayr South West Scotland 185
Cumnock South West Scotland 5
Dumfries South West Scotland 96
Irvine South West Scotland 155
Kilmarnock South West Scotland 89
Stranraer South West Scotland 39
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Appendix B: AD12
£
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Expenditure
Salaries Goods/services Estate costs Sub-total CSUS District spend
GLW North 8,403,000 649,000 2,757,000 3,406,000 -- 11,809,000
GLW South 9,990,000 787,000 2,470,000 3,257,000 -- 13,247,000
GLW East 5,399,000 444,000 1,609,000 2,053,000 -- 7,452,000
Argyll and West 6,181,000 610,000 1,866,000 2,476,000 -- 8,657,000
Highlands and Islands 4,966,000 587,000 1,428,000 2,015,000 -- 6,981,000
SW Scotland 8,071,000 895,000 2,023,000 2,918,000 -- 10,989,000
Clyde Coast and Renfrew 7,121,000 563,000 1,918,000 2,481,000 -- 9,602,000
Other 6,718,000 5,835,000 375,000 6,210,000 -- 12,928,000
Total 56,849,000 10,370,000 14,446,000 24,816,000 35,703,000 117,368,000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Notes: Other--This covers all expenditure on Centralised Area Teams, Accommodation and Office Services and Central Support Unit
Scotland Central Services--This covers all Operational Support Directorate and centrally funded projects costs
Appendix B: AD13
£
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Expenditure
Salaries Goods/services Estate costs Sub-total CSUS District spend
East Edinburgh and 7,090,000 659,000 730,000 1,389,000 -- 8,479,000
Borders
Lothian West and North 5,709,000 546,000 1,606,000 2,152,000 -- 7,861,000
Edinburgh
Fife 5,072,000 539,000 1,506,000 2,045,000 -- 7,117,000
Tayside 6,077,000 599,000 1,738,000 2,337,000 -- 8,414,000
Grampian and Shetland 4,616,000 577,000 1,336,000 1,913,000 -- 6,529,000
Lanarkshire 8,870,000 822,000 2,793,000 3,615,000 -- 12,485,000
Forth Valley 4,260,000 525,000 1,205,000 1,730,000 -- 5,990,000
Other 1,585,000 904,000 2,458,000 3,362,000 -- 4,947,000
Total 43,279,000 5,171,000 13,372,000 18,543,000 -- 61,822,000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________.
Note: Other--This covers all expenditure on Area Personnel Unit, Area Director's Support Team and secondment and voluntary early
retirement
Subjects
Costs; Pay; Staff; Offices; Scotland; Social Security Benefits Agency; Operating costs
Date
15 July 1999
Reference
90790; 335 c302-3W;335 c304-5W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioner households in Scotland (a) were entitled to receive the winter fuel payment, (b) received their winter fuel payment by (i) January, (ii) February and (iii) March 1998, (c) received incorrect winter fuel payments and (d) received duplicate winter...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many pensioner households in Scotland (a) were entitled to receive the winter fuel payment, (b) received their winter fuel payment by (i) January, (ii) February and (iii) March 1998, (c) received incorrect winter fuel payments and (d) received duplicate winter...
Asked by
David Rendel
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
27 July 1998
For answer on
31 July 1998
Answered on
31 July 1998
Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioner households in Scotland (a) were entitled to receive
the winter fuel payment, (b) received their winter fuel payment by (i) January, (ii) February and (iii) March 1998, (c) received
incorrect winter fuel payments and (d) received duplicate winter fuel payments. [53709]
Mr. Denham: Winter fuel payments are one of a number of initiatives the Government has taken to help vulnerable people, especially
the elderly, keep warm this winter. Originally a total of £400 million was committed for two years (97-98 and 98-99), to help
pensioners with fuel bills to pay.
As announced during the statement to the House on 17 July 1998, Official Report, columns 703-15, a further £0.5 billion has been
allocated to extend the scheme beyond next winter. This will provide each eligible pensioner household with an annual £20 winter
fuel payment.
The administration of Winter Fuel Payments is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to
the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Rendel dated 30 July 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many pensioner
households in Scotland (a) were entitled to receive the winter fuel payment, (b) received their winter fuel payment by (i) January,
(ii) February and (iii) March 1998, (c) received incorrect winter fuel payments and (d) received duplicate winter fuel payments.
The information is not available in the format requested and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The making of Winter Fuel Payments to almost ten million eligible pensioners, in over seven million households, before the end of
March 1998 was a challenging task for the Benefits Agency. This was achieved whilst maintaining normal business.
We issued 1,441,614 £50 payments to the poorest pensioners, those receiving Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseeker's
Allowance (JSA), by 31 January. Other eligible pensioners were entitled to a payment of £20 or £10. Where they lived alone, were the
only eligible pensioner in a household, or were of no fixed abode, they were entitled to £20; otherwise, they were entitled to £10.
In order to establish other eligible pensioners, correctly identify pensioner households, and determine the amount each should
receive, it was necessary to correlate data. This involved around fifteen million computer records, fifteen qualifying benefits,
across nine computer systems. Where only one eligible person was identified as living at an address a payment of £20 was made and if
more than one eligible person was identified as living at an address a payment of £10 was made. By the end of March we issued a
further 8,326,715 payments to these eligible customers.
Where official Departmental records were not correct or incomplete, it was possible that the amount of some payments may not have
corresponded with the actual circumstances. For example, there were cases where two eligible pensioners lived at the same address
and in the same household, but the address details held on the relevant benefit computer records were incorrect or incomplete for
either or both of them. In such cases, the data correlation exercise may not have identified more than one eligible person at an
address and in accordance with the provisions of the legislation each were entitled to a payment of £20. There is no overprovision
in such instances, but any voluntary offer to repay any amount would be accepted.
Of payments made to IS and income-based JSA pensioners in January we are aware that some payments were incorrectly made or
duplicated. We know that 9,357 payments were made where information held within official records indicated payment was
inappropriate. A further 211 duplicate payments were made to those pensioners who transferred from IS to income-based JSA during the
qualifying week of 5 January 1998. Of the relevant payments this represents a 0.68 per cent. error rate. In financial terms the
total cost of these errors amounts to £488,400, and against this represents 0.68 per cent. of the total sum issued of £72,080,700.
In addition we also know that due to a computer operator error, 40,801 IS payments were sent out with an incorrect issue date on
them. All these girocheques were replaced automatically within 72 hours. To date we are aware that in 438 cases both the original
and replacement payments have been cashed.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Subjects
Pensioners; Scotland; Social security benefits; Winter fuel payment
Date
31 July 1998
Reference
317 c756-8W; 53709
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claimants of disability living allowance in Scotland have had their benefit reduced or stopped under the Benefits Integrity Project; and how much money was saved as a result. - Inc text of letter from Peter Mathison of the Benefits...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many claimants of disability living allowance in Scotland have had their benefit reduced or stopped under the Benefits Integrity Project; and how much money was saved as a result. - Inc text of letter from Peter Mathison of the Benefits...
Asked by
David Rendel
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
27 July 1998
For answer on
31 July 1998
Answered on
31 July 1998
Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of disability living allowance in Scotland have had
their benefit reduced or stopped under the Benefit Integrity Project; and how much money was saved as a result. [53729]
Mr. Denham: The administration of Disability Living Allowance and the Benefits Integrity Project 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. Rendel, dated 30 July 1998
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many claimants of
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in Scotland have had their benefit reduced or stopped as a result of a decision taken as part of
the Benefits Integrity Project (BIP) and how much money was saved as a result.
Information on the BIP is not available in the format requested. To provide geographical information for action under the BIP
nationally.
As at 31 May 1998, a total of 217,839 cases, including 34,164 renewal cases, have been selected for action under the BIP nationally.
At the same date a total of 94,634 cases have been examined. Of the total cases dealt with 2,191 have resulted in an increase in
benefit. 73,035 have remained unchanged, 12,101 have resulted in a reduction in benefit and 7,307 have resulted in benefit being
stopped.
The total includes 20,054 renewal cases, of which 623 have resulted in an increase in benefit, 10,121 have remained unchanged, 5,539
have resulted in a reduction in benefit and 3,771 have resulted in benefit being stopped.
The BIP is looking again at some awards of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to collect up to date information about the care and
mobility needs of some disabled people and to make sure that the correct amount of benefit is being paid. It is expected that the
Project will realise benefit savings of £8 million in the first year, £36 million in the second year and £40 million in the third.
A monthly statistical report can be found in the House of Commons Library.
I hope that this is helpful.
Subjects
Disability living allowance; Scotland; Benefit integrity project
Date
31 July 1998
Reference
317 c749W; 53729
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently claim family credit in Scotland. - Text of letter from Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of Benefits Agency, inc figs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently claim family credit in Scotland. - Text of letter from Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of Benefits Agency, inc figs.
Asked by
David Rendel
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 July 1998
For answer on
29 July 1998
Answered on
29 July 1998
Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently claim family credit in Scotland. [53171]
Mr. Denham: The administration of Family Credit is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will
write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Rendel, dated 28 July 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people
currently claim Family Credit (FC) in Scotland.
The information is not available in the format requested. FC is administered centrally by the FC Unit in Preston and, as such,
statistics are produced on a national basis.
A periodic scan of the FC computer system produces details of the numbers of families in receipt of FC, at that particular date,
with each local Benefits Agency (BA) office area. Such information serves as a "snap-shot" of the position at the date of the scan
and does not provide details of the number of families in receipt of the benefit annually.
The latest scan was conducted on 30 April 1998. On that date a total of 69,565 people were in receipt of FC in the areas covered by
the BA's Scottish offices. Please note that this figure is provisional and subject to change.
I hope that this is helpful.
Subjects
Family credit; Scotland
Date
29 July 1998
Reference
53171; 317 c339W
House
House of Commons
Deposited by
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Deposited papers
Author
Social Security Benefits Agency
Committed on
1 June 1998
Originated on
27 June 1994
Received on
1 June 1998
Subjects
Income support; Scotland
Commons Library location
Dep 98/456
Date
1 June 1998
Reference
Dep 98/456
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what reforms will be made to the distribution system for winter fuel payments for next year, to ensure that the £20 sum reaches those who qualify; and other questions on winter fuel payments. - Text of letter from Peter Mathison of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what reforms will be made to the distribution system for winter fuel payments for next year, to ensure that the £20 sum reaches those who qualify; and other questions on winter fuel payments. - Text of letter from Peter Mathison of...
Asked by
Ian Davidson
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answered by
John Denham
(Labour)
Answering body
Social Security Benefits Agency
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 March 1998
For answer on
31 March 1998
Answered on
31 March 1998
Subjects
Heating; Pensioners; Scotland; Winter fuel payment
Date
31 March 1998
Reference
309 c487-9W; 35297;35298;35296
House
House of Commons