HC Deb 07 November 1979 vol 973 cc220-1W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the average rent payments for recipients of supplementary benefit for each year since 1974.

Mr. Prentice

The average rent addition included in the assessment of all householders in receipt of supplementary benefit on a day in November was as follows:

Average amount of rent addition (rounded to nearest 10p)
Year £ weekly
1974 350
1975 450
1976 5.10(1)
1977 6.00
1978 6.50
NOTE. (1) The estimate for 1976 excludes the rent addition for unemployed claimants, for whom reliable information is not available due to industrial action at that time.