§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assumptions about the take-up of means-tested benefits underlie(a) the most recent departmental spending plans and (b) the previous year's spending plans; and if she will make a statement. [12820]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe Department's estimates of expenditure on means-tested benefits do not make any assumptions about the level of take-up. Estimates are based on information drawn from the administrative data sets for individual benefits and reflect the level of take-up that exists at the time the data are collected.
Notes:
1. Further information can be found in the Department's "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up" publications. A copy of the newly published 1995–96 report is available the Library.
2. The expenditure forecasts assume that recent trends, including trends in take-up rates, continue into the future. There has been no change in the relevant methodology between the latest plans and the previous year's plans.