§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received regarding the effects of the Social Security Act 1986 on the current levels of families estimated living at income support level or below.
§ Mr. Peter LloydAs well as the fourth report from the Select Committee on Social Services, Session 1987–88, we have received representations from the Child Poverty Action Group. The Government's reply to the Select Committee will be published shortly.
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§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single parents draw income support who(a) have and (b) have not got maintenance orders against the fathers of their children.
§ Mr. Peter LloydFigures for single (that is, unmarried lone) mothers receiving income support are not yet available. The most recent figures for supplementary benefit (May 1987) are(a) 17,084 and (b) 232,255. Orders obtained by the Department are included at (a).
§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the £70 million extra annual spending on income support for disabled people includes transitional additions; whether it takes account of(a) the loss of single payments and (b) the latest available information on the number of claims for income support; and what effect each of these factors has on the total.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe figure of £70 million is an uprated estimate of the extra spending through the disability premium for 1989–90. It derives from the tables published in the revised technical annex to the White Paper "Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd 9691). The figure does not take account of either transitional additions or the loss of single payments. The technical annex has not been updated to take account of the 1987 annual statistical inquiry or subsequent predictions of the number of claims for income support.
§ Mr. SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown between the two benefits of the extra £70 million going to families with children on income support and family credit.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIt is estimated that of the extra £70 million, a total of £43 million will go to income support recipients, £25 million to family credit recipients and £2 million to housing benefit recipients.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much is allowed for the payment of water rates in the income support personal allowances for 1989–90.
§ Mr. Peter LloydNo specific amount is included in the Income Support personal allowances for 1989–90 for the payment of water rates.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much he expects to spend on income support in 1989–90; and how much of this is attributable to the compensation for 20 per cent. of the community charge.
§ Mr. Peter LloydA detailed explanation of the changes to the programme will be published in the 1989 public expenditure White Paper in the normal way.
§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the average amount of rates that income support claimants would be liable for in 1989–90.
§ Mr. Peter LloydLatest estimates suggest that the average amount of rates that income support recipients in England and Wales will have to pay in 1989–90 will be around £1.50.