HC Deb 30 November 1971 vol 827 cc239-40
20. Mr. Pardoe

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will carry out a survey to establish what sort of families who are eligible for help under the Family Income Supplement Act have not claimed their entitlement, and why.

Sir K. Joseph

At my request the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys conducted a survey in September in which a number of respondents to recent Family Expenditure and General Household Surveys were reinterviewed with a view to obtaining this information. I expect to receive the results shortly.

Mr. Pardoe

While thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, and expressing the hope that the survey will produce the results which the Question was intended to produce, will the Secretary of State accept that nearly 100,000 out of the 185,000 families estimated to be eligible for F.I.S. have not claimed it? Is he aware that many of us are deeply concerned that among those 100,000 are the most needy people?

Sir K. Joseph

If my original estimate were correct the hon. Gentleman's figure would follow. What the House must recognise is that a much higher percentage of those whom we expected to be entitled to £2 a week or more have received awards. The sharp short-fall has been in those entitled to relatively small awards. We regret this, however, because even with the small award, the pass-book that goes with F.I.S. would have given those families automatic free health and sickness benefits.

Mr. Dalyell

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us the types of reason for which applications for F.I.S. are turned down?

Sir K. Joseph

I have answered this before. Two-thirds are turned down because their earnings are too high and one-third because they are not technically in full-time work.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what proportion of those receiving family income supplement are civil servants or public employees and what proportion of their applications are successful?

Sir K. Joseph

It is a good question, to which I cannot give the answer. If the hon. Lady likes to put down a Question, I will try to find out.