§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost savings arising from the abolition of the existing supplementary benefit scheme, taking account of the effect of the statutory uprating which was due this November.
§ Mr. ScottIn public expenditure terms, we estimate that expenditure on income support and the social fund (excluding payments for maternity and funeral expenses) will be £290 million higher in 1988–89 than if the existing supplementary benefits scheme had continued with rates 469W increased in the usual way. The statutory date for upratings was fixed at April by the Social Security Act 1986.