HC Deb 25 November 1999 vol 339 c196W
Mr. Denzil Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of households in Wales were in receipt of(a) income support and (b) family credit at the most recent date for which figures are available. [98497]

Mr. Bayley

The information is not available in the format requested. However, it is estimated that as at May 1999, 9.8 per cent. of the adult population of Wales were in receipt of Income Support and an estimated 2.1 per cent. of the adult population of Wales were in receipt of Family Credit.

Sources: 1. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 1999 2. Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Enquiry, May 1999.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of increasing the capital threshold for income support entitlement from £8,000 to(a) £10,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £30,000, (d) £40,000, (e) £50,000 and (f) £60,000. [98466]

Mr. Bayley

The information is in the table.

Cost and number of beneficiaries of increasing the capital
threshold for income support entitlement for people not living in
residential care or nursing homes
Income Support upper capital limit (£) Number of benefiaries Income Support costs (£ million)
10,000 10,000 25
20,000 25,000 50
30,000 25,000 50
40,000 25,000 50
50,000 25,000 50
60,000 25,000 50

Notes:

1. The costs are based on the 1999–2000 Policy Simulation Model derived from the 1996–97 Family Resources Survey adjusted using Income Support administrative data.

2. All costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million and all numbers to the nearest 5,000.

3. All figures exclude people living permanently in residential care and nursing homes.

4. As the IS capital limits are increased above £20,000, the number of additional floaters-on is zero. This indicates that there are no potential IS cases that have capital greater than £20,000 and income (including tariff income) below the IS threshold.