HC Deb 12 July 1973 vol 859 cc424-6W
Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT all of the means-tested benefits for which his Department is responsible, and the estimated take-up of each.

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all the benefits in cash or in kind for which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are subject to a means test, together with as much information as is available on the estimated number of people currently entitled to them and the number of people who have claimed their entitlement to the latest available date.

Sir K. Joseph

Estimating entitlement is for some of the benefits very difficult because of the many variable factors involved. The benefits for which my Department is directly responsible and the most recent totals of successful claimants are as follows:

Supplementary Benefits
(a) Recipients of regular weekly allowances
Recipients as at 15th May 1973 (excluding dependents) 2,819,000
Estimated number of expectant mothers and young children in receipt of free milk and vitamin tokens as at November 1972 284,000
(b) Recipients of single payment to meet immediate need during period 13th December 1972 to 19th June 1973 1,124,000
Other Benefits to persons not in receipt of Supplementary Benefit
Estimated number of expectant mothers and young children in receipt of free milk and vitamin tokens at 15th May 1973 33,000
Successful awards during the period 13th December 1972 to 19 th June 1973
Prescription charges 18,000
Help with dental charges 62,000
Help with optical charges 80,000
Hospital fares Not available
Family Income Supplement
(Estimated numbers as at April 1973)
Awards current 84,000
Expectant mothers and young children in receipt of free milk and vitamin tokens 78,000
Estimate (May 1973) of the number of supplementary benefit recipients whose wage stop is reduced because of FIS. (In addition an unknown number avoid the wage stop completely as a result of FIS.) 8,000

The benefits administered by local authorities in respect of services for which my Department has general responsibility are as follows:

Statutory Assessments

Residential accommodation for elderly or handicapped people. Temporary accommodation.

The most recent totals of those accommodated are 114,000 and 21,000 respectively.

Discretionary Assessments

Children in care—parental contribution. Residential accommodation for mothers and babies. Day nurseries.

Residential accommodation for the mentally disordered.

Meals in centres for the mentally disordered, elderly or handicapped.

Meals on wheels.

Recreation for the elderly or handicapped.

Personal aids and equipment.

Adaptation of houses.

Home help.

Chiropody.

Convalescence and recuperative holidays.

Family planning.

Information on these benefits, which are given at the discretion of the local authority, is not available.