§ Mr. Adam Butlerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to review the levels of disregard for supplementary benefit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeanI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Norman Lamont) on 3rd April—[Vol. 854, c.40]—and to my remarks on this subject in the Second Reading debate on the National Insurance and Supplementary Benefit Bill on 30th April—[Vol. 855, c. 857]—to which I have at present nothing to add.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown by each quarter of the number of claimants to whom the four-week rule has been applied since October 1968; and if he will give details of the number of allowances limited to three months and the number of appeals, successful or otherwise, against both the four-week and the three-month limitation of supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of supplementary benefit claimants investigated for suspected cohabitation or fictitious desertion for each year since 1968; and if he will publish details of the number of allowances withdrawn or reduced as a result of the investigations.
§ Mr. DeanThe information is as follows:
1968 Investigated Allowances withdrawn or reduced Cohabitation 4,940 2,512 Fictitious desertion 1,233 682 7969 Investigated Allowances withdrawn or reduced Cohabitation 5,981 2,775 Fictitious desertion 1,516 776 1970 Investigated Allowances withdrawn or reduced Cohabitation 7,335 3,406 Fictitious desertion 2,021 982 1971 Investigated Allowances withdrawn or reduced Cohabitation 8,426 3,787 Fictitious desertion 2,095 925 1972 Investigated Allowances withdrawn or reduced Cohabitation 8,286 3,511 Fictitious desertion 1,908 810