Benefits (Hansard, 23 July 1986)

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of paying unemployment benefit to persons between the ages of 60 and 65 years whose benefit is exhausted or who are currently disqualified because their contribution record is inadequate, but excluding females who are entitled to a state pension, and the saving in other benefits and additional yield of tax; and what adjustment should be made to these figures if those with an occupational pension but no state pension were to be excluded from drawing unemployment benefit.

§ Mr. Major
I regret that the information requested is not available. No records are kept of the number of unemployed persons over 60 years who are not receiving benefits and who are not required to sign at the unemployment benefit office for credits.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the saving in benefits including housing benefit if (a) child benefit were increased to (i) £15 and (ii) £20 per week and (b) unemployment pay was also paid to all those below pensionable age without work and able and willing to work;
(2) what is his estimate of the number of children in families in receipt of social security; how this compares with the number in 1973 and 1979; and what is his estimate of the numbers which could be taken out of social security 303W if (a) child benefit were increased to (i) £15 and (ii) £20 per week and (b) in addition unemployment pay was payable to all those below pensionable age without work and able and willing to work.

§ Mr. Newton
Increases in child benefit would reduce the number of families in receipt of supplementary benefit, rather than social security as a whole. The number of children in families in receipt of supplementary benefit is as follows:

Number

1973 780,000

1979 920,000

1984 1,950,000

I regret that the other information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of children eligible for child benefit, the number for whom benefit is being paid, the number of families receiving benefit and the distribution by family size, the number of families receiving one-parent benefit, the estimated gross cost in the current year of both kinds of benefit and the estimated cost if child benefit were to be increased to (i) £15 and (ii) £20 per week together with the estimated savings on other programmes, including housing benefit.

§ Mr. Newton
In December 1984 child benefit was paid for 12,346,000 eligible children, in 6,881,000 families, with the following distribution by family size:

'000

Families with—

One child 2,895

2 children 2,865

3 children 858

4 children 197

5 children 48

6 or more children 18

In December 1984 517,000 families received one-parent benefit. The estimated gross costs in 1986–87 are £4,425 million for child benefit and £148 million for one-parent benefit. In a full year the gross cost of child benefit at £15 a week would be £9,496 million, and at £20 a week, £12,661 million. To calculate the estimated savings on other programmes following these increases would incur disproportionate cost.

	'000
Families with—
One child	2,895
2 children	2,865
3 children	858
4 children	197
5 children	48
6 or more children	18