§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social services (1) if he will estimate the cost of administration involved in applying the July rise in pensions;
(2) if he will estimate the cost of administration involved in applying the July rise in unemployment benefit;
(3) if he will estimate the cost of administration involved in applying the July rise in child benefit;
(4) if he will estimate the cost of administration involved in the forthcoming changes in (a) supplementary benefit and (b) supplementary pension levels.
§ Mr. NewtonThe estimated administrative cost of implementing the July benefit uprating is around £16 million. A reliable breakdown of this figure between the different benefits is not available.