§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date payment of the increased social welfare payments will first be made; by how much the purchasing value of the proposed increases has decreased due to the rise in the cost of living since 15th April; and, on the basis that the cost of living increases at the same rate until the increase is paid, to what extent both the increases and existing welfare benefits will depreciate in purchasing value between 15th April and the date of payment.
§ Mr. EnnalsIt is proposed that the increases in social security benefits should come into effect in the week commencing the 3rd November, 1969. The increases over the current rates, which came into operation in October, 1967, have been calculated on that basis, so that there is no real point in comparisons with the situation in April. However, during the two months between April, 1969 and June, 1969, the latest month for which figures are available, the Index of Retail Prices has increased by three-tenths of 1 per cent.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that between October, 1964 and May, 1969 the official cost of living index figure rose by 21.9 per cent., whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of figures giving details of the extent to which the Government's increases in social welfare payments off-set the effects of this increased cost of living.
565W
§ Mr. EnnalsThe information requested is set out in the following table:
STANDARD RATES OF THE PRINCIPAL SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS COMPARED Social Security Benefit Standard weekly rate payable in October 1964 Standard weekly rate currently payable Percentage by which current rate is higher than rate payable in October 1964 Proposed standard weekly rate in November 1969 Percentage by which proposed rate in November 1969 is higher than rate payable in October 1964 s. d. s. d. s. d. Sickness Benefit, Unemployment Benefit, Retirement Pension, Widows Pension, windows Pension Single person … 67 6 90 0 33.3 100 0 48.1 Married couple with no children (S.B., U.B., R.P.) … 109 0 146 0 33.9 162 0 48.6 Injury Benefit Single person … 115 0 145 0 26.1 155 0 34.8 Married couple with no children 156 6 201 0 28.4 217 0 38.7 Family Allowance for a three child family … 18 0 38 0 111.1 No change National Assistance/Supplementary Benefit Scale rates Single Householder … 63 6 91 0 43.3 96 0 51.2 Married couple with no children 104 6 149 0 42.6 157 0 50.2 Notes: (1) Under the scheme introduced in October 1966, earnings related supplement may be payable in addition to the current standard rates quoted above for Sickness Benefit, Unemployment Benefit, and Injury Benefit. (2) In addition to the current Supplementary Benefit rates shown above, an increase of 10s, is paid to persons over pension age, and to persons under pension age (other than the unemployed) who have been receiving Supplementary Benefit continuously for 2 years or more. (3) For families who pay income tax the increase in their family allowances will have been offset by a reduction in their personal tax allowances.