§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many school leavers aged 16 years or thereabouts received social security benefit through the Weymouth office in the four weeks following the conclusion of the Easter term; what rate of benefit was 374W applicable; and what, if any, inquiries were made as to their parents' means.
§ Mr. MeacherI regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. The rate of supplementary benefit payable to a person aged 16–17 who is not a householder would have been £6.05 increasing, to £6.85 from 7th April 1975. These amounts are 375W subject to reduction on account of resources of the claimant, but the means of parents are not relevant to a claimant's entitlement and no inquiry would normally be made into them.