§ 24. Mrs. Lena Jegerasked the Minister of Social Security it she will estimate the number of people who will be wage-stopped after the implementation of the new rates of benefit; and what increase this represents over the current number of people on reduced benefit.
§ Mr. PentlandIt is not possible to make any reliable estimate at the present time, but, if the new supplementary benefit rates are approved, up-to-date information will be available shortly after they come into operation.
§ Mrs. JegerWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that, come October, many of the poorest families will have to pay an increased contribution from National Insurance from which, in times of unemployment and sickness, they will gain no benefit because of the wage-stop rule? It cannot be the Minister's intention that the poorest shall be poorer still.
§ Mr. PentlandMy right hon. Friend and I have always recognised the difficulties involved in the wage stop. I have always held the belief, as I have said on more than one occasion in the House, that it is not so much the application of the wage stop which affects these people as the very low wages which many of them receive and which should be increased.