HC Deb 22 April 1987 vol 114 cc596-7W
Mr. McTaggart

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants have been refused single discretionary payments in each of the last three years.

Mr. Lyell

The number of single payments refused in each of the last three years is as follows:

Year (May-April) Number of payments refused
1984–85 722,852
1985–86 1,120,181
1986–87 11,885,788
1 Provisional figures for period May to March only.

Source: Management Information Statistics (100 per cent. count).

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the supplementary benefit payable on account of someone in residential care is intended to cover the cost of day-care facilities; who is liable to meet the charge for such a person residing in a private home but receiving day-care provided by a voluntary organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major

The supplementary benefit board and lodging allowance for people in residential care homes contains no specific allocations for particular items of expenditure. Under the Residential Care Homes Regulations 1984 the proprietor of a private home is required, having regard to the size of the home and the number, age, sex and condition of residents, to make suitable arrangements for the training, occupation and recreation of residents. If the proprietor makes arrangements with a voluntary organisation to provide such facilities in the home or elsewhere he would then be liable for any charge levied by the voluntary organisation and may take this into account in fixing the charges payable by residents. Residents who are entitled to supplementary benefit receive help with their charges up to the national limits.

Mrs. Beckett

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect British Gas vouchers will have on entitlement to supplementary benefit, including single payments for fuel costs.

Mr. Major

The vouchers that I understand will start to become payable to British Gas Shareholders from 30 June 1987 will be treated for supplementary benefit purposes as income from capital and will be disregarded. The normal capital rules for weekly and single payments of supplementary benefit will continue to apply to the value of the shares themselves.