HC Deb 07 July 1987 vol 119 cc118-9W
Dr. Godman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of people in receipt of supplementary benefit in the Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency at the latest available date.

Mr. Portillo

The Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency is covered by the two local offices in Greenock and Port Glasgow, but their boundaries are not conterminous. The table shows the number of people receiving supplementary benefit from those offices on 5 May, the latest date for which information is available:

Number
Greenock 112,065
Port Glasgow 15,348
Total 17,413
1 Source 100 per cent, count of cases in action.

Dr. Godman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of people in receipt of unemployment benefit in the Greenock and Port Glasgow constituency at the latest available date.

Mr. Portillo

The available information is given in the table:

Number of persons receiving unemployment benefit
At 12 February 1987 Number
Greenock Unemployment Benefit Office 1,698
Port Glasgow Unemployment Benefit Office 886

Long-term supplementary benefit rate November 1977 April 1987 Value of April 1987 rates where November 1977 = 100
£ £
Single householder 17.90 38.65 1107.8
Single non-householder 14.35 30.95 1107.7
Couple 28.35 61.85 1108.9
Lower rate heating addition 30.80 2.20 2147.7

Long-term supplementary benefit rate November 1977 April 1987
Rate 4Percentage of average earnings Rate 4' 5Percentage of average earnings
£ Gross Net £ Gross Net
Single householder 17.90 23.6 34.6 38.65 20.6 29.1
Single non-householder 14.35 19.0 27.7 30.95 16.5 23.3
Couple 28.35 37.5 51.5 61.85 33.0 44.3
Lower rate heating addition 0.80 1.1 1.5 2.20 1.2 1.6
1 Based on the increase in the full retail prices index exclusive of housing costs.
2 Based on the increase in the fuel element of the retail prices index.
3 Prior to 1980, heating additions were given at the discretion of the Supplementary Benefits Commission which laid down the criteria for payment at standard rates. In November 1977 the rate equivalent to the present lower rate addition was 80p.
4 Earnings of male manual workers.
5 Provisional.

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