HC Deb 13 June 1985 vol 80 cc551-2W
Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why he has not published the findings of the research commissioned from Social and Community Planning Research into child benefit in the background papers to the Green Paper on the "Reform of Social Security".

Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether the assessment unit for income support will in all cases be the same as the assessment unit for supplementary benefit;

(2)whether all those receiving income support or family credit will be automatically eligible for help with funeral expenses from the social fund;

(3)whether the loss to supplemetary benefit claimants of a proportion of their housing benefit in respect of rates will be balanced by a compensating adjustment in the levels of income support;

(4)whether the transitional protection to be introduced at the time of change from supplementary benefit to income support will preserve the real value or the cash value of benefit;

whether a couple claiming income support (a) with children or (b) without children will receive less than the rate for a couple over 25 years when (i) the income support claimant is under 25 years, (ii) the claimant's partner is under 25 years or (iii) both are under 25 years; and whether, where this is the case, the differential will in each instance be the same;

whether a disabled person claiming income support who is also a lone parent will receive a premium in respect of each of these conditions;

(7)whether a premium rate of income will be paid to those caring for elderly or disabled persons;

(8)if he will list in order of magnitude all the premium rates to which persons claiming income support may be entitled;

(9)whether attendance allowance and mobility allowance will be disregarded in the means test for income support;

(10)whether he proposes to make changes in benefits payable to those caring for elderly and disabled people.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the sum in the proposed family credit allowance to cover the cost of school meals will be calculated.

Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will amplify the meaning of accrued pension rights under the state earnings related pension scheme as the term is used in the Green Paper of 3 June.

Mr. Newton

I shall let the hon. Members and my hon. Friend have replies as soon as possible.