§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the earnings limit for those in receipt of supplementary benefit was last increased, what is the current earnings limit, what the present limit would now be if it had been increased in line with inflation from the date of the last increase, if he will now take steps to increase the limit, what reasons he advanced previously for not increasing the limit, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe information requested is as follows:
589WWe have not increased earnings disregards since the dates shown because we have taken the view that any additional resources available should be used to improve the scale rates for all recipients rather than to increase the earnings disregards of those beneficiaries who have earnings. In the Green Paper "Reform of Social Security" we have put forward our proposals for improving the structure of the earnings disregards for certain groups of claimants.