§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will show for each year since implementation the total annual cost of family income supplement, distinguishing between cost of benefits and administrative costs and showing numbers employed in administration; the numbers of claims made; the number of payments made; the estimated percentage take-up in relation to eligibility; and the period for which payments were made in each case before re-assessment.
§ Mr. O'MalleyFollowing is the information:
and the Leicestershire Ad Hoc Consultative Committee, a copy of which has been sent to her.
§ Dr. OwenI have not yet seen the report to which the hon. Member refers but I have arranged to obtain a copy. For this year's social services capital programme we indicated to local authorities the balance between client groups, including the mentally handicapped, that might be appropriate nationally, but local prorities are a matter for the local authority concerned. In drawing up the list of selected schemes my right hon. Friend has, therefore, had regard first and foremost to local authorities' own priorities for individual schemes and it is her intention to continue to do so in future years.