Mr. Squireasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the ordinary and long-term supplementary benefit scale rates, excluding the addition for rent, for a single person, a couple, a couple plus one child aged five to 11 years, a couple plus two children, one aged under five and one aged five to 11 years, a couple plus four children, two aged under five and two aged five to 11 years, as a percentage of average net male earnings for each year since 1979.
Dr. BoysonThe table is as follows:
157W
Mr. Squireasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the extra cost of each one per cent. increase in (a) unemployment benefit, (b) the ordinary rate of supplementary benefit and (c) the ordinary rate of supplementary benefit paid just to unemployed claimants.
Dr. BoysonThe estimated extra costs in a full year would be as follows:
- (a) £17 million (but there would be a saving of £5 million in supplementary benefit if supplementary benefit rates were left unchanged);
- (b) £35 million;
- (c) £32 million.