§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will permit maintenance payments, where these apply, to be deducted from gross family income in assessments of income for the purpose of entitlement to family income supplement; and, if not, if he will take other steps to eliminate the anomaly in qualification for this benefit between two low-paid workers with the same income and same number of children, but where one 84W is liable to a substantial maintenance payment.
§ Mr. DeanNo. Family income supplement is designed to operate in a simple, easily understood way; entitlement is based on gross income and no account can be taken of the expenditure of individual families.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount that has so far been paid out in family income supplement during each year and part-year since its introduction in August 1971; and, during each of these periods, how much was spent on advertising or generally promoting the benefit and how much on administrative costs.
§ Mr. DeanFollowing is the information:
Thousands 1971–72* 1972–73 1973–74† £ £ £ Family income supplement payments 3,700 9,800 6,300 Advertising costs 310 325 150 Administration costs 460 640 360 * Scheme started 3rd August 1971. † Estimated expenditure to end of September 1973.