§ Mr. Milneasked the Minister of Social Security if she will publish a list of the payments made to claimants for supple- 288W mentary benefits with dependent wife and two children; and how these figures compare with the minimum rates laid down by the Wages Council Orders affected by the Government decision for payment in January, 1967.
§ Mr. PentlandA general comparison with wage rates is not possible, because the amount of supplementary benefit depends on a number of varying factors such as the rent paid, the ages of children, and any exceptional expenses. I am however sending my hon. Friend some information about supplementary benefits which may help him.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Social Security why she has cut the amount of savings from £600 under National Assistance to £325 under the new Social Security arrangements due to operate in December as the disregard before reductions are made in the basic supplementary pension.
§ Mr. PentlandThere has been no such cut. Apart from "war savings" any savings of £125 or more led to a reduction in the National Assistance allowance. Under the new supplementary benefit scheme, savings of at least £300 and, often, up to £800, are wholly disregarded.