§ 43. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what part of the supplementary benefit scale rates, in shillings and pence, is calculated as a margin for amenities, that is to say, a cash income to be spent in accordance with the individual's needs and preferences.
§ Mr. PentlandThe whole of a supplementary benefit payment is a cash income which the individual can spend in accordance with his own needs and preferences. It is not possible to analyse this into component parts since people's spending habits vary widely. Since 1964 benefit rates have improved by 19 per cent. in real terms so that all beneficiaries have an increased margin of spending power to use as they please.
§ Mr. DribergDoes my hon. Friend mean, from what he has just said, that this sum is variable in accordance with different people's tastes and preferences? If so, is it not difficult for the local officers to calculate it—and if my hon. Friend cannot estimate the components of the total rate, how can he arrive at the total?
§ Mr. PentlandThe Supplementary Benefits Commission is concerned about increasing the margin of spending power so that people themselves can decide how they wish to spend their supplementary benefit.