Benefits (Hansard, 18 July 1974)

§ Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the most recent figures for (a) the annual administrative cost, excluding publicity, of the supplementary benefits scheme, (b) the annual cost of publicity for supplementary benefits, (c) the total administrative cost per recipient of supplementary benefits, and (d) the number of civil servants employed to administer the supplementary benefits scheme;

(2) what are the most recent figures for (a) the annual administrative cost, excluding publicity, of the family income supplement scheme, (b) the annual cost of publicity for the family income supplement scheme, (c) the total administrative cost per recipient of family income supplement, and (d) the number of civil servants employed to administer the family income supplement scheme;

(3) what are the most recent figures for (a) the annual administrative cost, excluding publicity, of free prescriptions paid on 232W grounds of low income or receipt of other benefits, (b) the annual cost of publicity of the scheme, (c) the total administrative cost per recipient of free prescriptions on low income grounds, and (d) the number of civil servants employed to administer the prescription scheme;

(4) what are the most recent figures for (a) the annual administrative cost, excluding publicity, of free prescriptions paid on grounds for exemption other than incomes, (b) the annual cost of publicity of this scheme, (c) the total administrative cost per recipient of the benefits as above, and (d) the number of civil servants employed to administer the scheme as above;

(5) what are the most recent figures of (a) the annual administrative cost, excluding publicity, of free welfare milk and foods paid on grounds of low income or receipt of other benefits, (b) the annual cost of publicity for the above, (c) the total administrative cost per recipient of the benefits for the above, and (d) the number of civil servants employed to administer the scheme, for the above;

(6) what are the most recent figures for (a) the annual administrative cost, excluding publicity, of the attendance allowance, (b) the annual cost of publicity for attendance allowances, (c) the total administrative cost per recipient of attendance allowances, and (d) the number of civil servants employed to administer the attendance allowance scheme;

(7) what are the most recent figures for (a) the annual administrative cost, excluding publicity, of family allowances, (b) the annual cost of publicity of family allowances, (c) the total administrative cost per recipient of the benefits of the above, and (d) the number of civil servants employed to administer the scheme, as above;

(8) what are the most recent figures for (a) the annual administrative cost, excluding publicity, of exemption from dental and optical charges on grounds other than income, (b) the annual cost of publicity of the above, (c) the total administrative cost per recipient of the benefits of the above, and (d) the number of civil servants employed to administer the scheme, as above;

(9) what are the most recent figures for (a) the annual administrative cost, excluding publicity, of free welfare milk and 233W foods paid on the grounds other than income, (b) the annual cost of publicity for the above, (c) the total administrative cost per recipient of the benefits of the above, and (d) the number of civil servants employed to administer the scheme, as above

(10) what are the most recent figures on (a) the annual administrative cost, excluding publicity, of exemption from dental and optical charges on grounds of low

Scheme	Annual administrative cost, excluding publicity (2)	Annual cost of publicity (3)	Total administrative cost per recipient (4)	Great Britain Number of civil servants employed to administer the scheme (5)
	£ million	£	£	Man-years
Supplementary benefit	74.4	—	9.4	24,500
Family income supplement	0.6	325,000	6.0	200
Free prescriptions on grounds of low income or receipt of other benefits (6)	0.1	—	not available	50
Free prescriptions on grounds other than low income or receipt of other benefits (6)
Free welfare milk and foods on grounds of low income or receipt of other benefits (7)	0.2	—	0.4	80
Free welfare milk and foods on grounds other than low income or receipt of other benefits (7)
Family allowances	11.7	—	2.5	2,100
Attendance allowance	1.8	36,300	12.8	550
Exemption from dental and optical charges on grounds of low income or receipt of other benefits (8)	1 ¼–1 ½	—	not available	500
Exemption from dental and optical charges on grounds other than low income or receipt of other benefits (8)

Notes:

(1) The information relates to the financial year 1972–73.

(2) Costs of the Department of Health and Social Security plus the cost of supporting services provided by other Government Departments.

(3) This expenditure relates to special publicity campaigns. The general supply of posters and leaflets concerning the benefits is regarded as part of administrative costs and included in that expenditure.

(4) For this calculation the numbers of recipients are mainly those at 1st April 1972 plus the new claims received during the year. For supplementary benefit these include claims for single payments. The effect of repeat claims cannot be eliminated. For welfare milk and foods the calculation relates to the number of recipients at 21st November 1972.

(5) Civil servants are not necessarily employed exclusively on a particular scheme and the numbers shown represent the approximate man-years.

(6) These costs are in respect of the issue of exemption certificates and the refund of charges on the grounds of low income. Although exemption is automatically available at minimal administrative cost to supplementary benefit and family income supplement beneficiaries, there is inadequate information available on the extent to which this facility is used. There are further costs incurred by the health authorities in dealing with prescription charges and the other categories of exemption, which amounted to around £1½ million.

(7) Entries relate only to the cost of handling free welfare milk books irrespective of grounds of title as separate records according to category are not kept. Additionally the Department reimburses the cost of milk provided to children in care of approved child minders, day nurseries and playgroups, but the administrative cost is not available in the form requested.

(8) Entries relate mainly to the Departmental costs of exemption or remission of optical and dental charges on the basis of low income or receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement. There will be additional costs in the health authorities in respect of the other categories of exemption but these are not readily available.

234W

income or receipt of other benefits, (b) the annual cost of publicity of the above, (c) the total administrative cost per recipient of the benefits, as above, and (d) the number of civil servants employed to administer the scheme, as above.