Supplementary Benefit (Hansard, 19 May 1986)

§ Mr. Winnick
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people of working age are now in receipt of supplementary benefit; what was the number in May 1979; and what is the percentage increase.

§ Mr. Major
The latest information available is as follows:

(Thousands)

May 1979 1,157

February 1985 3,026

Percentage increase 162

Source: "Quarterly Statistical Enquiries."

§ Mr. Tony Banks
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are claiming supplementary benefit in the London borough of Newham for the latest date available.

§ Mr. Major
The London borough of Newham is covered by three of the Department's offices, Canning Town, Plaistow and Woodgrange Park, but their boundaries are not conterminous.
The total number of people receiving supplementary benefit from these offices on 6 May 1986 was 33,592.
Source: 100 per cent. count of live cases in action.

§ Ms. Harman
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will place in the Library figures showing how many people were in receipt of supplementary benefit in each of the years 1979 to 1985; and what percentage change in these figures occurred between 1979 and 1985, in each of the places listed in the letter to him from the hon. Member for Peckham of 29 January.

§ Mr. Newton
[pursuant to his reply, 26 February c. 609]: A table has been placed in the Library showing the numbers of people receiving supplementary benefit in May 1979 and each subsequent year until 1985 together with the percentage changes in these numbers during that period, as requested in the hon. Member's letter of 29 January 1986.
57W

§ Mr. Pendry
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of claimants in receipt of supplementary benefit in the Greater Manchester area, by constituency; of these, how many are pensioners, families with children, and young single people under the age of 25 years; and of each of these threecategories, what information he has regarding additional requirements which are included in their supplementary benefit assessment, by type and average amount of additional requirements.

§ Mr. Major
[pursuant to his reply, 24 March, 1986 c. 380]: The information is not available in the precise form requested as constituency boundaries are not conterminous

Table B

Recipients of additional requirements^*

thousands

Additional requirements by type Number of pensioners Number of claimants with dependants Number of claimants under 25 years

Heating 86 46 9

Average amount £3.05 £3.17 £3.98

Diet 15 3 †—

Average amount £2.42 £2.56 —

Age addition 25 — —

Average amount £0.26 — —

Blind addition 2 †— †—

Average amount £1.25 — —

Laundry 6 1 †—

Average amount £1.10 £1.66 —

Domestic assistance †— — †—

Average amount — — —

Extra baths †— †— —

Average amount — — —

Clothing and footwear — †— —

Addition for hire purchase — †— †—

Average amount — — —

^* Number of payments rounded to nearest thousand.

† Less than 500.

The information in the table relates to claimants receiving additional requirements at the date of the Annual Statistical Inquiry in December 1983. As the figures are derived from an analysis of a sample of casepapers they are accordingly subject to the normal sampling error.

	(Thousands)
May 1979	1,157
February 1985	3,026
Percentage increase	162

Table B
Recipients of additional requirements^*
thousands
Additional requirements by type	Number of pensioners	Number of claimants with dependants	Number of claimants under 25 years
Heating	86	46	9
Average amount	£3.05	£3.17	£3.98
Diet	15	3	†—
Average amount	£2.42	£2.56	—
Age addition	25	—	—
Average amount	£0.26	—	—
Blind addition	2	†—	†—
Average amount	£1.25	—	—
Laundry	6	1	†—
Average amount	£1.10	£1.66	—
Domestic assistance	†—	—	†—
Average amount	—	—	—
Extra baths	†—	†—	—
Average amount	—	—	—
Clothing and footwear	—	†—	—
Addition for hire purchase	—	†—	†—
Average amount	—	—	—
^* Number of payments rounded to nearest thousand.
† Less than 500.