HC Deb 25 February 1988 vol 128 cc301-2W
Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate how many recipients of supplementary benefit will fail to qualify for income support as a result of the changed definition of full-time work from 30 hours to 24 hours; and if he will indicate how many of these claimants are single parents.

Mr. Scott

[holding answer 19 February 1988]: It is estimated that some 15,000 claimants will fail to qualify for income support as a consequence of the reduction in the number of hours they may work and remain entitled to benefit. Fewer than 5,000 of these will be single parents. Those single parents and couples with children affected by will include helping authorities to develop and implement income generation schemes; identifying and promoting opportunities for income generation; disseminating best practice to health authorities; and monitoring the success of the income generation initiative. We expect that, in addition to Mr. Kerr and his secretary, the unit will consist of four staff, of whom at least one will be a health authority officer on secondment.