§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will list all the changes to benefits for those persons aged 16 and 17 years since 1987, showing(a) their financial consequences and (b) the numbers affected;
(2) if he will list all the changes to entitlement rules for those persons aged 16 and 17 years who are unemployed and seeking income maintenance.
§ Miss WiddecombeInformation in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the two main changes in entitlement to income support for 16 and 17-year-olds were:
- (a) In September 1988 income support was withdrawn from the majority and instead the Government gave a guarantee of a place on youth training to all young people who wanted one. The decrease is net social security benefit expenditure was estimated to be £88 million in the first year, but the Government spent over £1,000 million on the youth training scheme in 1988–89, of which a substantial proportion was in the form of training allowances paid in lieu of income support to people on youth training. The number of young people affected by this measure is estimated at 100,000.
- (b) In July 1989 16 and 17-year-olds who were forced to live independently were given entitlement to income support at the rate normally paid to 18 to 24-year-olds. The higher rate was also paid to all young people receiving only housing benefit. It is estimated that 17,000 young people benefited, at a cost of £3.7 million in the first year.