§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will list in the Official Report the value of the retirement pension for a single person and a married couple as a percentage of (a) net and gross male manual earnings and (b) net and gross male industrial earnings for (1) the October of each year since 1948 and (2) the month during which benefits were increased in each year including April 1975;
(2) if she will publish in the Official Report the standard weekly rate of retirement pension for (1) a single person and (2) a married couple for each year since 1948; and if she will list the value of each of these payments in 1975 prices;
(3) if she will list in the Official Report (a) the standard weekly rate of unemployment/sickness benefit and (b) the standard weekly rate of unemployment/sickness benefit plus earnings-related supplement for a single person, a married couple, a married couple with two children, a married couple with four children for each year since 1948; and if she will list these sums in April 1975 prices;
608W(4) if she will publish in the Official Report the standard weekly rate of war pensions to (1) an ex-private with a 100 per cent. assessment and (2) a war widow, for each year since 1946; and if she will express these payments in April 1975 prices;
(5) if she will list in the Official Report the value of invalidity benefit for a single person, a married couple, a married couple with two children, and a married couple with four children for each year since 1971; and if she will list these payments in April 1975 prices.
(6) if she will list in the Official Report the value of invalidity benefit for a single person, a married couple, a married couple with two children, a married couple with four children, as a percentage of (a) net and gross male industrial earnings, and (b) net and gross male manual earnings for (i) the October of each year since 1971 and (ii) the month during which benefits were increased in each year including April 1975;
(7) if she will list in the Official Report the widowed mother's allowance for herself and the widowed mother's allowance for a one-, two- and four-child family for each year since 1946; and if she will express these payments in April 1975 prices;
(8) if she will list in the Official Report the value of (a) the flat rate unemployment/sickness benefit and (b) the flat rate unemployment/sickness benefit plus earnings related supplement, for a single person, a married couple, a married couple with two children, a married couple with four children as a percentage of (i) net and gross male industrial earnings and (ii) net and gross male manual earnings for (1) the October for each year since 1948 (2) for the month during which benefits were increased in each year including April 1975;
(9) if she will list in the Official Report the value of (a) the ordinary, and (b) the long-term supplementary benefit scale rate for a single person, a married couple, a married couple with two children, a married couple with four children—two under 11 and two over 11 years of age—including and excluding an average rent 609W payment for each year since 1948; and if she will list the value of each of these payments in April 1975 prices;
(10) if she will list in the Official Report the ordinary supplementary benefits scale rate for a single person, a married couple, a married couple with two children—under 11 years of age—and a married couple with four children—two under 11 and two over 11 years of age—including and excluding an average rent payment as a percentage of (a) net and gross male industrial earnings, and (b) net and gross male manual earnings for (i) each one in the October of each year since 1948 and (ii) on the month during which benefits were increased including April 1975;
(11) if she will list in the Official Report the value of family allowances for a one-, two-, three- and four-child family for each year since 1945; and if she will express the value of each of these payments in April 1975 prices;
(12) if she will list in the Official Report the widowed mother's allowance for a one-, two- and four-child family as a percentage of (a) average net and gross male industrial earnings, and (b) average net and gross male manual earnings (i) for October of each year since 1964 and (ii) the month during which benefits were increased in each year including April 1975;
(13) if she will list in the Official Report the value of family allowances for a one-, two-, three- and four-child family as a percentage of (a) average net and gross male industrial earnings and (b) average net and gross male manual workers earnings (i) for October of each year since 1945 and (ii) on the month when increases in family allowances were paid;
(14) if she will list in the Official Report the value of war pensions for (1) an exprivate with a 100 per cent. assessment and (2) a war widow's pension, as a percentage of (a) net and gross male industrial earnings and (b) net and gross male manual earnings for (i) the October of each year since 1946 and (ii) the month during which benefits were increased in each year including April 1975;
(15) if she will list in the Official Report the standard industrial injury benefit for a single person, a married couple, a married couple with two children and a married couple with four children for each 610W year since 1948; and if she will also list these payments in April 1975 prices;
(16) if she will publish in the Official Report the value of industrial benefit for a single person, a married couple, a married couple with two children and a married couple with four children as a percentage of (a) net and gross male industrial earnings and (b) net and gross male manual earnings for (i) the October of each year since 1948 and (ii) the month during which benefits were increased in each year including April 1975;
(17) what was the percentage of pensioners claiming supplementary benefits in 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, and all subsequent years;
(18) what percentage of claimants drawing national insurance sickness benefit were already drawing supplementary benefit in 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960 and all subsequent years;
(19) what was the percentage of widowed mothers claiming supplementary benefits in 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960 and all subsequent years;
(20) what was the percentage of unemployed claiming supplementary benefits in 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960 and all subsequent years;
(21) if she will list in the Official Report the long-term supplementary benefits scale rate for a single person, a married couple, a married couple with two children, a married couple with four children—two under 11 and two over 11 years of age—both including and excluding an average rent payment as a percentage of (a) net and gross male industrial earnings and (b) net and gross male manual earnings for (i) for the October of each year since 1966 and (ii) on the month during which benefits were increased including April 1975.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThese 21 statistical Questions asked by my hon. Friend, many of which ask for figures going back to 1945 or 1948, would involve such a disproportionate amount of time and effort to answer that I do not feel justified in asking my Department to undertake the task involved. If, however, there is any specific problem on any particular aspect of a social security benefit which concerns my hon. Friend, and he will be good enough to let me know, I shall be glad to see whether I can help him.
611W
§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applicants before supplementary benefit appeal tribunals, in the latest period of 12 months, were unrepresented, represented by solicitors, by social or welfare workers, by friends or relatives, and by claimants' unions, trade unions or voluntary organisations, respectively; in respect of each
Representation Total Appellant attended Appellant absent Favourable Decision Appellant attended Appellant absent Unrepresented 20,964 7,495 13,469 1,905 946 Solicitors 151 131 20 46 2 Social or welfare workers 933 787 146 430 68 Friends or relatives 3,663 2,897 766 909 270 Claimants' unions, trade unions, or voluntary organisations 1,008 892 116 388 49
§ Mr. Kinnockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of appeals relating to right to or amount of supplementary benefit, in the last 12 months for which figures were available, was decided in favour of the appellant.
§ Mr. O'MalleyIn the year ended 30th June 1975, 19.2 per cent. of appeals relating to the right to or amount of supplementary benefit were decided in favour of the appellant.