§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will state the value in real terms both in absolute figures and as a percentage, of retirement and other state pensions and all other welfare and national insurance benefits and allowances paid in November 1979 in relation to those to be paid from April 1988; and if he will indicate the actual figure for each benefit in each year.
§ Mr. ScottThe comparisons requested between benefit rates in November 1979 and April 1988 are set out as follows. Comparisons are given only for those benefits in existence at both dates. Benefit rates for the intervening years are set out in "Social Security Statistics 1988", a copy of which is in the Library.
Member for Glasgow, Govan, Official Report, column 275W 743, on deductions from benefits for payment of the poll tax, on what authority the interim advice to which he referred was given.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe interim advice was issued on the authority of officials within the headquarters of the Department. It took the form of an internal management memorandum and was designed to keep regional and local staff abreast of developments in this area. The content of the memorandum paraphrases the Community Charges (Deductions from Income Support) (Scotland) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989 No. 507) which came into force on 8 April 1989.