§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give up-to-date information for applications and payments under regulation 30 of the Supplementary Benefits (Single Payments) Regulations in the form given in answer to the hon. Member for Anglesey (Mr. Best) on 15 July, Official Report, column 404.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe following table shows the number and cost of the single payments made under regulation 30 in each region during the period 24 November 1980 to 23 November 1981
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Region Number of Payments Amount £ East Midlands and East Anglia 182 7,347 London North 284 10,342 London South 223 9,372 London West 101 3,984 Merseyside 62 2,957 North Western Manchester 203 8,061 Northern 81 4,464 Scotland 304 †22,283 South Western 161 4,670 Wales 73 4,456 West Midland 56 1,801 Yorks and Humberside *189 *5,297 Total 1,919 85,034 Total applications for these payments are not know because unsuccessful applications are not recorded on statistical returns. * These data may be incomplete because of industrial action. † Clearance of certain fuel debts accounts for most of this higher figure.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many urgent needs payments have been made under the urgent cases regulations since 24 November 1980; and how many in the year previous to that date under section 4 of the Supplementary Benefit Act 1976, broken down into each Department of Health and Social Security region.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that the information requested is not available as data collected on the number of supplementary benefit payments made does not separately identify payments made under these provisions.
§ Mr. Haynesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the midday meal allowance for an unemployed person on supplementary benefit in hotel accommodation receiving bed, breakfast and evening meal.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWhere midday meals can be obtained at the hotel, the cost of the meals is included in the weekly supplementary benefit assessment, subject to the overall weekly charge being reasonable in relation to local and personal circumstances. Otherwise the amount generally allowed is £1.25 for each meal or the actual cost if less.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the annual cost of raising the supplementary benefit rates for dependent children by 10 per cent.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAbout £75 million.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children are in families dependent on supplementary benefit.
§ Mrs. Chalker1, 509, 000 in August 1981, the latest date for which information is available.
Source: Quarterly Statistical Enquiry August 1981.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children are in families which have been drawing supplementary benefit for over a year.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe number was 565, 000 in December 1980, the latest date for which information is available.
Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry December 1980.