HC Deb 26 November 1987 vol 123 cc329-30W
Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of retirement pensioners in Liverpool in receipt of supplementary benefit or housing benefit supplement who receive assistance through housing benefit with charges for heating, hot water, cooking and lighting.

Mr. Portillo

I regret that the information requested is not available, but I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Mr. Bowden) on 24 November 1987.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled claimants in Liverpool he estimates will receive a lower entitlement under income support than they currently receive.

Mr. Scott

None. Under our proposals for transitional protection, claimants whose benefit entitlement on the introduction of the income support scheme would be less than their existing benefit entitlement will have their benefit level maintained.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children in Liverpool are currently in receipt of free school meals; and how many he estimates will lose this entitlement from April 1988.

Mr. Portillo

I understand that on the latest information (for October 1986) over 27,000 pupils in Liverpool schools were receiving free school meals. Of these 3,200 were from families receiving family income supplement and 4,700 were receiving free school meals under the exercise of the local education authorities' discretionary power. These two groups will cease to be entitled to free school meals from April 1988.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in Liverpool claiming supplementary benefit were in receipt of the heating addition for each of the financial years 1986–87 and 1987–88; what amounts were involved in each case; and what provision will be made to cover these costs after April 1988.

Mr. Scott

I regret that no information is available concerning the number of people in Liverpool claiming supplementary benefit who were in receipt of a heating addition nor of the amounts involved for the years requested. The amount of money spent on heating additions has been included in the resources for the new income support scheme. Extra help will be directed more effectively through the premiums at those in greatest need —pensioners, sick and disabled people and families.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants of housing benefit in Liverpool he estimates will receive lower benefit from April 1988.

Mr. Portillo

I regret that the information is not available.