§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the net cost of abolishing the earnings-related supplement to unemployment benefit while retaining earnings-related contributions and (a) increasing flat-rate unemployment benefit by £5.95 for a couple and £5.20 for a single person over and above the increases in April, (b) increasing the children's rates to those paid to the children of invalidity pensioners and (c) making this benefit payable so long as unemployment lasts; and what would be the effect of these measures on the number of unemployed claiming supplementary benefit;
(2) what would be the net cost of abolishing the earnings-related supplement to sickness benefit while retaining earnings-related contributions (a) while increasing flat rate sickness benefit by £5.95 for a couple and £5.20 for a single person over and above the increases due in April 1975, (b) while increasing the children's rates to those paid to the children of invalidity pensioners and (c) while making sickness benefit payable so long as sickness lasts thereby abolishing the distinction between sickness benefit and invalidity pension; and what would be the effect of these measures on the number of sick claiming supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe cost to the National Insurance Fund would be about £275 million a year for unemployment benefit and about £145 million a year for sickness benefit. The precise effect these 555W measures would have on claims for supplementary benefit could be ascertained only at disproportionate staff costs.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of claimants who in the 10 years up to 1966, and at the latest available date, drew unemployment benefit for a maximum of 492 days, and if she will express these toals as a percentage of the total number drawing unemployment benefit.
§ Mr. Alec JonesI regret that this information is not available.