HC Deb 02 December 1970 vol 807 cc411-2W
75. Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what qualifications are required in order to obtain social security benefits.

Mr. Dean

I understand the hon. Member is principally interested in supplementary benefit for persons without an address. Supplementary benefit is available to them, as it is to anyone not in full-time work, if they can provide satisfactory evidence that their resources are below the level of requirements approved by Parliament.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the value of the increases in supplementary benefits in November, 1969; by how much the real value has been reduced by inflation since then; and what estimate he has made of the cost of restoring them to an equivalent real value.

Mr. Dean

In November, 1969, the single householder scale rate was increased by 5s. to 96s. a week, and the married couple rate by 8s. to 157s. a week. The purchasing power of these increased rates would have been restored by new rates of 102s. 8d. and 167s. 10d. respectively in mid-October, 1970. In November, 1970, they were increased, respectively, by 8s. to 104s. and by 13s. to 170s. a week.