§ 24. Mr. CoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent measures his Department has taken to maintain the real level of benefits.
§ Mr. HagueMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State shall shortly be laying before the House the annual uprating order which, subject to parliamentary approval, will increase social security benefit rates from April. Benefits will be increased in line with inflation with additional increases for those on income-related benefits, pensioners, and the sick and disabled.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish an analysis of the estimated per capita expenditure in England, Wales and Scotland on(a) supplementary benefit, (b) unemployment benefit, (c) sickness and invalidity benefit, (d) industrial disablement benefit (e) housing benefit and (f) other benefits.
§ Mr. BurtInformation is not available in the precise form requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
Estimated per capita expenditure £ per person per year England Scotland Wales Income support 257 295 288 Unemployment benefit 32 30 25 Sickness benefit/invalidity benefit 102 178 247 Industrial disablement benefit 10 11 19 Housing benefit/council tax benefit 86 122 87 Notes:
1. Figures are for 1992–93 and are estimates only.
2. Estimates are based on benefit expenditure per head of population in England, Scotland and Wales and not an average of the number receiving each benefit.