§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year old summer school leavers who would have been eligible for income support are now on extended child benefit following the new benefit rules introduced from September for Scotland.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe information requested is available only for Great Britain as a whole. As at 31 October 1988 there were 17,448 16 and 17-year-old summer school leavers whose parents were receiving extended child benefit in respect of them. It is likely that most of these young people would previously have been eligible for income support.
§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the total number of 16 and 17-year olds who will be exempt from the withdrawal of entitlement to benefit covering lone parents, registered blind, incapable of work by reason of disease or mental or physical disability, pregnancy or couples married with a child for Scotland;
(2) what is the total number of 16 and 17-year-olds who will be exempt from the withdrawal of entitlement to benefit covering lone parents, registered blind, incapable of work by reason of disease or mental or physical disability, pregnancy or couples married with a child, for Wales and each of the standard regions.
§ Mr. Peter LloydSuch estimates as are available are given in the table:
100W
Estimated number of 16 and 17-year-olds entitled to Income Support without a direction from the Secretary of State under the "severe hardship" provision—September 1988 England 15,000 Scotland 2,000 Wales 2,000 — — Great Britain 19,000 Notes:
(1) Based on a sample of 1 in 50 cases in receipt of Supplementary Allowance on a day in May 1987.
(2) Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.
(3) Information is not available according to "standard regions."
§ Mr. SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many additional(a) families and (b) children will be eligible for income-related benefits as a result of the freeze in child benefit.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIn broad terms, the claimant caseload of the main income-related benefits is expected to increase by around 30,000 from April 1989 because child benefit will stay at its present level. These families include about 60,000 children.
§ Mr. ClayTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) 29 July,Official Report, column 832, relating to child benefit;
(2) if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) of 17 June, Official Report, column 371–72, relating to child benefit.
§ Mr. Peter LloydNo later figures are available.