§ Mr. BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost of raising the £15 earnings disregard to £44 per week for people entitled to the disability premium in each of the benefits(a) income support, (b) housing benefit and (c) council tax benefit. [1754]
§ Mr. Roger Evans[holding answer 24 November 1995]: The information is set out in the table.
Benefit Cost £ million Income support 10 Council tax benefit 10 Housing benefit 20 Total 35 1. Based on data taken from the 1994 Annual Statistical Enquiry and from the 1991–92–93 Family Expenditure Surveys uprated to 1995–96 prices, benefits and earnings levels.
2. For HB/CTB cases the estimate of the proportion of disability premium cases with earnings is based on data taken from the 1994 HBMIS data.
3. As it is not possible to model changes in hours worked due to the suggested increase in the earnings disregard, any costs/savings arising from changes in hours worked have not been included.
4. Lone parents in receipt of the disability premium are assumed to benefit from the change. Disabled pensioners have not been included as they are in receipt of a Pensioner rather a disability premium.
5. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £5 million.