What consultations his Department held with the Department of the Environment over the effects of the proposed housing benefit regulations which restrict the single room rent to single people aged 25 to 59 years; what assessment he has made of these effects; and what plans he has to transfer funds...

What consultations his Department held with the Department of the Environment over the effects of the proposed housing benefit regulations which restrict the single room rent to single people aged 25 to 59 years; what assessment he has made of these effects; and what plans he has to transfer funds...

How many appeals against the decision to withdraw reduced earnings allowance are outstanding; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays. - This is a matter for the Independent Tribunal Service.

How many appeals against the decision to withdraw reduced earnings allowance are outstanding; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays. - This is a matter for the Independent Tribunal Service.

When work commenced in the Cheetham Hill and Chorlton Benefits Agency offices in order to facilitate the transfer of activities from the Great Ancoats Street office. - Text of letter from Peter Mathison of the Benefits Agency; and various questions on same and consultation exercise;

When work commenced in the Cheetham Hill and Chorlton Benefits Agency offices in order to facilitate the transfer of activities from the Great Ancoats Street office. - Text of letter from Peter Mathison of the Benefits Agency; and various questions on same and consultation exercise;

If he will require the Independent Tribunal Service not to appoint as members of disability appeal tribunals doctors who are used by the Benefits Agency Medical Service to examine claimants in connection with claims to disability living allowance or attendance allowance.

If he will require the Independent Tribunal Service not to appoint as members of disability appeal tribunals doctors who are used by the Benefits Agency Medical Service to examine claimants in connection with claims to disability living allowance or attendance allowance.

How many successful applications were made in the constituencies of Roxburgh and Berwickshire and Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale for assistance from the Social Fund for (i) budgeting loans, (ii) crisis loans, (iii) community care grants, (iv) maternity expenses, (v) funeral expenses and (vi) cold weather payments for each of the...

How many successful applications were made in the constituencies of Roxburgh and Berwickshire and Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale for assistance from the Social Fund for (i) budgeting loans, (ii) crisis loans, (iii) community care grants, (iv) maternity expenses, (v) funeral expenses and (vi) cold weather payments for each of the...

How many pensioners in the constituencies of Roxburgh and Berwickshire and Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale have been claiming (a) pensioner, (b) enhanced pensioner and (c) higher pensioner income support premiums at (i) higher and (ii) lower levels for each of the past five years for which figures are available. Text...

How many pensioners in the constituencies of Roxburgh and Berwickshire and Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale have been claiming (a) pensioner, (b) enhanced pensioner and (c) higher pensioner income support premiums at (i) higher and (ii) lower levels for each of the past five years for which figures are available. Text...

If he will list the measures which have provided extra financial assistance to pensioners on low incomes since 1990.

If he will list the measures which have provided extra financial assistance to pensioners on low incomes since 1990.

What estimate he has made of the (a) financial and (b) other effects of (i) the Housing Benefit Regulations (S.I. 1996, No. 965) and (ii) the proposed housing benefit regulations restricting housing benefit for single people aged 25 to 59 years. - Includes table.

What estimate he has made of the (a) financial and (b) other effects of (i) the Housing Benefit Regulations (S.I. 1996, No. 965) and (ii) the proposed housing benefit regulations restricting housing benefit for single people aged 25 to 59 years. - Includes table.

How many people aged (a) 16-17 years and (b) 18-24 years have been disqualified from benefit due to the rule forbidding more than 16 hours study in each of the last three years in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) England and (iv) each English region. - The information is not...

How many people aged (a) 16-17 years and (b) 18-24 years have been disqualified from benefit due to the rule forbidding more than 16 hours study in each of the last three years in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales, (iii) England and (iv) each English region. - The information is not...

How many Benefit Agency appellants have been refused oral hearings at an appeal tribunal (a) nationally, (b) in the West Pennine District and (c) in the Oldham District since the right to automatic oral hearings was restricted in October 1996. - This is a matter for the Independent Tribunal Service.

How many Benefit Agency appellants have been refused oral hearings at an appeal tribunal (a) nationally, (b) in the West Pennine District and (c) in the Oldham District since the right to automatic oral hearings was restricted in October 1996. - This is a matter for the Independent Tribunal Service.

What projections his Department has made, and over what periods, of future levels of provision of accommodation matching the single room rent definition.

What projections his Department has made, and over what periods, of future levels of provision of accommodation matching the single room rent definition.

Statement on the gross budget will be set for the Discretionary Social Fund in 1997-98. - Figures given. Details of individual district budgets allocations are in the Library as Dep/3 4864.

Statement on the gross budget will be set for the Discretionary Social Fund in 1997-98. - Figures given. Details of individual district budgets allocations are in the Library as Dep/3 4864.

What estimate he has made of the housing benefit costs in respect of the private rented sector in (i) 1995-96 and (ii) 1996-97. - Includes table.

What estimate he has made of the housing benefit costs in respect of the private rented sector in (i) 1995-96 and (ii) 1996-97. - Includes table.

What requests he has received from local authorities for compensatory payments to cover unplanned expenditure under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to families with children who have failed the Habitual Residence Test and have indicated their intention to appeal to the Independent Social Security Appeals Tribunal against those...

What requests he has received from local authorities for compensatory payments to cover unplanned expenditure under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to families with children who have failed the Habitual Residence Test and have indicated their intention to appeal to the Independent Social Security Appeals Tribunal against those...

How many families were in receipt of family credit in the Fife Benefits Agency office area in each quarter since February 1995. - Text of letter from Benefits Agency. Includes table of available information.

How many families were in receipt of family credit in the Fife Benefits Agency office area in each quarter since February 1995. - Text of letter from Benefits Agency. Includes table of available information.

What operational problems in the Analytical Services Division of the Independent Tribunals Service prevented figures being given for social security and medical appeals tribunals in 1995.

What operational problems in the Analytical Services Division of the Independent Tribunals Service prevented figures being given for social security and medical appeals tribunals in 1995.

How many families claimed family credit in the constituencies of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale and Roxburgh and Berwickshire in each of the last five years for which figures are available. - Table given but not in format requested.

How many families claimed family credit in the constituencies of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale and Roxburgh and Berwickshire in each of the last five years for which figures are available. - Table given but not in format requested.

How many households in the constituencies of Roxburgh and Berwickshire and Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale claimed (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit for each of the past five years for which figures are available. - Includes table but not in the format requested.

How many households in the constituencies of Roxburgh and Berwickshire and Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale claimed (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit for each of the past five years for which figures are available. - Includes table but not in the format requested.

Statement on what plans he has to introduce amending regulations in respect of appeals to the Social Security and Child Support Commissioners. - Includes fact that have today laid regulations to make changes in relation to applications for leave to appeal against a tribunal decision. I have consulted the council...

Statement on what plans he has to introduce amending regulations in respect of appeals to the Social Security and Child Support Commissioners. - Includes fact that have today laid regulations to make changes in relation to applications for leave to appeal against a tribunal decision. I have consulted the council...

How many people have received payments under the Earnings-Top-Up Scheme to date; how many of these are employees; and what proportion have had earnings below the level of the lower earnings limit for National Insurance contributions. - Figures given.

How many people have received payments under the Earnings-Top-Up Scheme to date; how many of these are employees; and what proportion have had earnings below the level of the lower earnings limit for National Insurance contributions. - Figures given.