§ Mr. Tilleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the net income levels for eligibility for family income supplement for a single-parent family with (a) one child, (b) two children and (c) three children; and how many such families receive family income supplement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerFamily income supplement (FIS) is payable when the family's gross income, excluding child benefit and the one-parent family premium (child benefit increase), is below the "prescribed amount". The following table shows the prescribed amounts, which are the same for one-parent and two-parent families, before and after this month's uprating.
(2) whether he is taking any steps to persuade claimants to receive their social security payments by direct credit transfers to a bank account;
(3) whether he has had any discussions with the Post Office on the likely effects of changing social security benefits now paid weekly to a fortnightly or monthly basis; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. PenticeI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 27 November.