Social Security Reform

HC Deb 28 January 1986 vol 90 cc486-9W

18. Mr. Geraint Howells

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings he expects to make by replacing the current system of single payments by the social fund as set out in the White Paper "Reform of Social Security".

Mr. Newton

A decision on the resources to be devoted to the social fund will be taken nearer the time when the fund is introduced.

30. Mr. Pike

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received since the publication of the White Paper on "Reform of Social Security".

Mr. Newton

A number of organisations and individuals have expressed views on various aspects of the White Paper proposals.

50. Mr. Meadowcroft

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how he would allocate extra funding if the social fund budget allocations run out before the end of the financial year under his proposals for social security reform.

Mr. Newton

Realistic budgets and effective monitoring of spending throughout the year should ensure that payments in any period are consistent with the annual budget, and we shall maintain contingency margins to respond to unpredictable levels of demand which put pressure on the allocations of individual offices.

61. Mr. Ashdown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide a breakdown by sex of the figures contained in the technical annex to the White Paper "Reform of Social Security".

Mr. Newton

I regret that this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under the proposals in "Reform of Social Security" how payment for residential care and nursing homes will be made.

Mr. Newton

This will be given further consideration in the light of the current review of supplementary benefit financial limits in such cases, and of the outcome of the proposed working party with the local authority associations described in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Kent (Mr. Rowe) today.

2. Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide a breakdown by gross income level of the totals illustrated in the bottom line of tables 3(i)B, 3(ii)B and 12(ii)B of the technical annex to the White Paper on the reform of social security, distinguishing, where possible, between couples and single parents, using the following or similar gross weekly income bands: under £50, £50–74, £75–£99, £100–£124 and £125 plus.

Table 3(i)B of the Technical Annex to the White Paper 'Reform of Social Security'

Working families with children: changes in receipt of FIS/family credit: by gross weekly income

Effect of structural reform

Thousands

Gross weekly income

Increases

Total increased

No change

Total increased

Decreases

£5+

£4–5

£3–4

£2–3

£1–2

[...]£1

[...]£l

£1–2

£2–3

£3–4

£4–5

£5+

Couples

Up to £75

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£75.01–£100

20

*

*

*

*

*

20

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£100.01–£125

70

*

*

*

*

*

90

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Over £125

130

20

20

20

20

10

210

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Total

220

20

20

20

20

10

320

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Single Parents

Up to £75

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£75.01–£100

10

*

*

*

*

*

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£100.01–£125

40

*

*

*

*

*

40

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Over £125

20

*

*

*

*

*

30

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Total

80

*

*

*

*

*

90

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

* Less than 5,000.

Total 3(ii)B of the Technical Annex to the White Paper 'Reform of Social Security'

Working families with children: changes in Disposable income after meeting housing costs: by gross weekly income

Effect of structural reform

Thousands

Gross weekly income

Increases

Total increased

No change

Total increased

Decreases

£5+

£4–5

£3–4

£2–3

£1–2

[...]£1

[...]£l

£1–2

£2–3

£3–4

£4–5

£5+

Couples

Up to £75

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£75.01–100

20

*

*

*

*

*

20

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£100.01–£125

40

10

*

10

*

*

70

*

30

*

10

*

*

*

10

Over £125

110

10

30

30

30

10

230

10

60

10

20

10

*

*

20

Total

170

30

30

30

40

20

320

20

90

10

20

10

10

*

30

Single Parents

Up to £75

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£75.01–£100

10

*

*

*

*

*

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£100.01–£125

20

*

*

*

*

*

30

*

10

*

*

*

*

*

10

Over £125

20

*

*

*

*

*

30

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Total

50

*

*

*

10

*

80

*

20

*

*

*

*

*

10

1. Without 20 per cent. rates contribution.

^*=less than 5,000.

Table 12(ii)B of the Technical Annex to the White Paper 'Reform of Social Security'

Working families with children: changes in disposable income after meeting housing costs by gross weekly income

Effect of structural reform

Thousands

Gross weekly income

Increases

Total increased

No change

Total increased

Decreases

£5+

£4–5

£3–4

£2–3

£1–2

[...]£1

[...]£l

£1–2

£2–3

£3–4

£4–5

£5+

Couples

Up to £75

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£75.01–£100

10

*

*

*

*

*

20

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£100.01–125

40

*

*

10

*

10

70

10

30

*

*

10

*

*

10

Over £125

110

10

20

20

30

10

200

10

70

10

20

10

10

*

20

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 16 January 1985, c. 697-98]: The number of sample cases is too small to justify a separate income band for under £50, but otherwise the information requested is given in the tables. Gross income has been taken to cover all normal weekly income, including current family income supplement and child benefit and other state benefits, but excluding housing benefit.

As in the technical annex, all numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10,000. As a result the combined totals may not exactly match the totals in the original tables.

Gross weekly income

Increases

Total increased

No change

Total increased

Decreases

£5+

£4–5

£3–4

£2–3

£1–2

[...]£1

[...]£l

£1–2

£2–3

£3–4

£4–5

£5+

Total

160

20

30

30

30

20

290

20

100

10

20

20

10

10

30

Single Parents

Up to £75

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

£75.01–£100

10

*

*

*

*

*

10

*

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

£100.01–£125

20

*

*

*

*

*

30

*

10

*

*

*

*

*

10

Over £125

20

*

*

*

*

*

30

*

10

*

*

*

*

*

*

Total

50

*

10

*

*

*

70

*

20

*

*

*

*

*

10

[...] With 20% rates contribution but taking no account of the effects of rates reform.

* less than 5,000

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consideration he has given to the effect of his proposals in "Reform of Social Security: Programme for Action", on the medical rehabilitation services; if they will provide any disincentive to treatment; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what consideration he has given to the effect of his proposals in "Reform of Social Security; Programme for Action," on the employment medical rehabilitation services; if they will provide any disincentives to rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 20 January 1986, c. 60]: We do not anticipate that the proposals in the White Paper will discourage those who might avail themselves of either of the services referred to by the right hon. Member. We shall, however, continue to keep the matter in view as the detailed arrangements for the schemes outlined in the White Paper are developed.