§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the meals allowance element in the board and lodging payment in line with the recent increase in the supplementary benefit meals allowance.
§ Mr. NewtonBoarders who claim supplementary benefit are eligible for an amount to enable them to meet the cost of their board, and to meals allowances for any meals that are not provided, subject to a locally determined limit which is intended to reflect a reasonable charge for full board and lodging in the area concerned.
If a charge for full board is increased to reflect an increase in the cost of meals, the supplementary benefit payable can also be increased provided that the total charge remains within the local limit. Similarly, when the meals allowances are uprated on 26 November, claimants with part board will receive this increase provided that the total of their charge and the meals allowances remains within the local limit.
§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what were the average numbers of weekly payments for board and lodgings in Scotland since 1980 for tiers i, ii and iii;
(2) what were the average numbers of weekly payments for board and lodgings in Scotland for each individual tier for November to March 1980 to 1984 and April to September 1984.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall let the hon. Member have the available data as soon as possible.