§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will state the total number of people, including children, who are dependent on supplementary benefit for each of the years 1979 and 1987; and what is the projected number for 1990;
(2) if he will state the total number of supplementary benefit recipients for each of the years 1979 and 1987; and what is the projected number for 1990.
§ Mr. ScottThe information is as follows:
Number of supplementary benefit claimants (thousands) Number dependent on supplementary benefit (thousands) November 19791 2,855 4,370 February 19871 5,008 8,350 1989/902 5,075 n/a 1The November 1979 figure is derived from the Annual Statistical Enquiry The February 1987 figure is derived from the Quarterly Statistical Enquiry The two figures are therefore not strictly comparable 2Supplementary benefit will be replaced by income support in April 1988 The figure quoted is from the public expenditure White Paper, and is the projected average number of income support claimants in the financial year 1989/90 The estimate is based on the assumption that there will be no change from the number of people who would have been receiving supplementary benefit if it were not being replaced by income support
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the total number of supplementary benefit recipients, including dependents, as defined for community charge purposes.
§ Mr. ScottNo such figures are available at present. The estimated increases in housing benefit caseload, as a result of the community charge replacing domestic rates, shown in Annex J of the Green Paper, Paying for Local Government (Cmnd. 9714) include those currently receiving supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the total number of supplementary benefit recipients and the total cost for each year since 1979 to the latest date available.
§ Mr. ScottThe information is as follows:
691W
Supplementary benefit claimants and cost Date Number (thousands)1 Financial year £ million2 November 1979 2,855 1979–80 2,436 December 1980 3,118 1980–81 3,172 December 1981 3,723 1981–82 4,840 December 1982 4,267 1982–83 6,261 December 1983 4,349 1983–84 35,592 December 1984 4,609 1984–85 6,472 February 1986 4,938 1985–86 7,512 February 1987 5,008 1986–87 8,022 1 The figures for 1979 to 1986 are derived from the Annual Statistical Enquiry. The figure for 1987 is derived from the Quarterly Statistical Enquiry. The 1987 figures are therefore not strictly comparable with those for the earlier years. 2 The expenditure figures are drawn from the public expenditure White Papers. 3 The reduction is due to the introduction of Housing Benefit.