§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the standard rates of National Insurance benefit and Supplementary benefit currently in force and what is the latest figure for the number of persons in receipt of supplementary benefit.
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSFollowing are the most important standard rates of benefits: —
National Insurance Flat Rate Benefits: £ s. d. Retirement pension, widowed mother's allowance, widow's pension, unemployment benefit, sickness benefit, maternity allowance 5 0 0 Increase for wife, and retirement pension for wife on her husband's insurance 3 2 0 Increase of widowed mother's allowance for each child, inclusive of family allowances 2 9 0 Increase of other benefits for each child, inclusive of family allowances 1 11 0 Supplementary Benefit:
The standard rates of supplementary benefit below do not include the long-term addition of 10s. payable to those over pension age and to those under pension age who have been receiving a supplementary allowance for two years, excluding any periods of registration at the Employment Exchange. In addition to these rates, an addition for rent is usually payable. There are special higher rates for blind people.
£ s. d. Husband and wife 7 17 0 Single householder 4 16 0 Any other person aged: 21 or over 3 17 0 18–20 3 4 0 16–17 2 16 0 13–15 2 4 0 11–12 2 1 0 5–10 1 13 0 Under 5 1 8 0 On January 20, 1970, the latest available date, there were 2.7 million recipients of supplementary benefit, the assessment of whose benefit would include the requirements of their dependants.