HL Deb 18 November 1971 vol 325 cc804-6WA
LORD O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people are entitled to family income supplement; how many now receive it; what has been the take-up each month since its inception.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)

The most recent estimate is that about 160,000 families are eligible for family income supplement. This estimate, how-ever, although based on the latest available data, is subject to wide margins of error and may be on the high side. It has also been estimated that during October a further 25,000 families were entitled to additional supplementary benefit under relevant provisions of the Family Income Supplements Act.

About 60,000 families are receiving family income supplements at present. In addition, all those entitled to extra supplementary benefit under the Act receive it automatically. The current total, there-fore, is about 85,000.

The following awards of family income supplements have been made since 3 May 1971 in the periods shown:—

Period Number of awards of Family Income Supplement
3.5.71–1.6.71* 4,228
2.6.71–29.6.71* 10,546
30.6.17–27.7.71* 8,378
28.7.71–31.8.71* 14,198
1.9.71–28.9.71 12,429
29.9.71–29.10.71† 8.741‡
1.11.71–12.11.71 3,636‡
* Awards made before 3 August 1971 came into effect on that date.
† Weekly counts changed from Wednesday-Tuesday to Monday-Friday.
‡Awards arising from fresh claims. In addition, since early October nearly 2,000 awards have been made to renew supplements originally awarded for periods which have expired or will do so shortly.

LORD O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What Family Income Supplement has cost (1) to administer; (2) in money paid to those eligible.

LORD ABERDARE

I regret that the information asked for in the first part of the noble Lord's Question is not at present available. Payments of Family Income Supplement are now running at an annual rate of over £5 million.

House adjourned at seven minutes before six o'clock.