§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Social Services approximately how many long-term unemployed have been refused supplementary benefit because of their possession of a certain amount of capital including redundancy payment.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the amount of assumed income from capital of £2,000 for the purpose of assessing entitlement to supplementary benefit; and when this figure was last revised.
§ Mr. DeanSince 1966 capital of £2,000 has been treated as equivalent to an income of £7 a week. The national income taken into account from capital sums of £800 is set at a higher level than the capital would normally earn on the principle that capital over that amount should, if necessary, be drawn upon to some extent for living expenses before supplementary benefit becomes payable.