§ 19. Mr. Carterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the change in the level of hardship amongst families in Birmingham during the past two years.
§ Mr. DeanNone, Sir. The Family Expenditure Survey sample upon which our estimates of the numbers of families living below supplementary benefit levels in Great Britain are based is not large enough to enable us to provide separate estimates for particular areas.
§ Mr. CarterIs the Minister aware that that is a very disappointing reply? Does he not agree that one way of measuring hardship is to look closely at the take-up of the various welfare benefits available? Is he aware that in Birmingham one in four of all school meals served in the city schools is free, and that that figure has doubled in the past two years? Would he not consider that to be a fairly conclusive piece of evidence to substantiate the view that hardship in Birmingham over the past 3 years has dramatically increased?
§ Mr. DeanI am sure the hon. Gentleman appreciates, too, that unemployment in Birmingham is now coming down fairly quickly, and this will be a help. For those who are dependent upon cash benefits, those benefits have been increased and there is now a firm commitment that they will be reviewed each autumn, before the onset of winter.
§ Mrs. KnightWill my right hon. Friend be assured that those who are operating the social security mechanism on his behalf in Birmingham deserve every praise for the speedy and efficient way in which they take up every case 225 offered to them by hon. Members representing Birmingham constituencies and that because of the bountiful help made available by my right hon. Friend there are undoubtedly, in general, fewer families in real need in Birmingham than ever before?
§ Mr. DeanI am grateful for all that my hon. Friend has said, and I will see that the staff know of her kind words. Equally, the City of Birmingham Social Services Department has done a very good job in helping people in need.