Income Support (Hansard, 24 November 1987)

§ 44. Mr. Wilson
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is reviewing income support rates to take account of the recently announced increase in electricity prices; and if he will make a statement.

§ 48. Mr. Blair
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is reviewing income support rates to take account of the recently announced increase in electricity prices; and if he will make a statement.

§ 92. Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is reviewing income support rates to take account of the recently announced increase in electricity prices; and if he will make a statement.
165W

§ Mr. Scott
No; the income support rates have been set taking into account current levels of supplementary benefit, evidence as to the relative circumstances of particular groups, available resources and the commit-ment to compensate claimants for the average value of the 20 per cent. rates contribution that householders will have to meet. In future they will be set by reference to movements in the appropriate price index over the 12 months preceding their announcement. Electricity prices form a component of that index, so any increase in these prices will in due course be reflected in benefit rates.