§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the estimates from the Family Expenditure Survey of the numbers of (i) households and (ii) persons who, in 1975, were living on incomes (a) below the supplementary benefit level, (b) at the supplementary benefit level and (c) on incomes up to 140 per cent. of the supplementary benefit level.
§ Mr. Orme,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 2nd November 1976: Vol. 918, c. 550], gave the following information:
The estimates for Great Britain relating to the end of 1975 are set out in the following table:
(Thousands) Number of Families Persons 1. with incomes below supplementary benefit level and not in receipt of it 1,150 2,030 2. Receiving supplementary benefit 2,490 3,770 3. Others with incomes up to 140 per cent. of supplementary benefit level 4,520 9,390 Total 8,160 15,190 NOTES:
- 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
- 2. The estimates are subject to sampling error. The Family Expenditure Survey refers to the household population only.
- 3. The supplementary benefit level is taken as being the supplementary benefit scale rate(s) appropriate to the family, using the long-term rates for pensioners only. Income refers to net income less net housing costs less work expenses.
- 4. The numbers at (1) relate to income only and do not indicate unclaimed entitlement to supplementary benefit for several reasons. Those who are in full-time work would not normally be able to claim supplementary benefit: for others not precluded from claiming no regard is had to factors such as disregarded resources, treatment of capital and exceptional circumstances additions which can affect payment of supplementary benefit.
- 5. The comparison is based on the family's normal income in the normal employment situation of the family head. Where, for example, the head of the family had been off work due to sickness or unemployment for less than three months at the time of the survey, the family's normal income when he was at work was used in determining the level of income.
- 6. The numbers of families and persons dependent on supplementary benefit have been derived from the Department's Annual Special Inquiry. To ensure consistency with the Family Expenditure Survey data, those in receipt of the benefit for less than three months at the time of the enquiry have been excluded.