§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the figures on supplementary benefit given to the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley), Official Report, 2 February 1978, columns 251–4.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI refer the hon. Member to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Knutsford (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).
Although tables 3.5 and 3.6 of the Supplementary Benefits Commission's annual report for 1978 do not provide information exactly in accord with the hon. Gentleman's request, I trust they will be sufficient for his purpose.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of paying the long-term supplementary benefit rate to the unemployed after one year; and how many unemployed claimants had been on supplementary benefit for over a year in 1978.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerThe cost of paying the long-term supplementary benefit rate to the unemployed after one year would be about £65 million in a full year at November 1979 benefit rates. About 215,000 unemployed claimants had been on supplementary benefit for over a year in 1978.