§ 2. Mr. Boothasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widowed mothers are currently subject to a limitation of supplementary benefit as a result of their children taking employment outside school hours.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Paul Dean)The most recent information is at November 1971 when a sample inquiry showed that there were of the order of 150 such cases.
§ Mr. BoothDoes the Minister agree that the number may be much larger now than it was when that sample survey was made? Is it his intention that boys who do paper rounds before going to school should have to contribute towards the maintenance of their widowed mothers? Will he undertake to review the limits placed upon the earnings of schoolchildren in the payment of supplementary benefit to the mothers?
§ Mr. DeanI will, of course, consider what the hon. Gentleman has said, but the widowed mother's allowance, which is the main allowance involved, is not affected by any earnings there may be. As regards supplementary benefit, the widow can earn £2 and have it entirely disregarded, and £1 for a child under 16 and £2 for a child over 16 can also be disregarded. Therefore, in addition to the main allowance, which is entirely disregarded, there is also a disregard of earnings which goes some way to meet the point made by the hon. Gentleman.