§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list all the means-tested benefits, subsidies, rebates and allowances which at the moment are available to taxpayers above the tax threshold for income tax.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe means-tested benefits, rebates and allowances which are available at the moment to taxpayers above the tax threshold for income tax 217W are listed below. There are no means-tested subsidies.
- 1. Supplementary Benefit.
- 2. Family income supplement.
- 3. Free welfare milk and foods.
Relief from National Health Service charges:
- 4. Optical charges and dental charges.
- 5. Charges for prescriptions.
- 6. Wigs and fabric supports.
- 7. Patients' hospital travelling expenses.
- 8. Legal aid (civil).
- 9. Legal advice and assistance.
- 10. Legal aid (criminal).
- 11. Training allowances (for young people under 18).
- 12. Grants to severely disabled people—to assist with excessive cost of fares to work or to set up in business on own account when this appears to provide the only satisfactory means of resettlement.
- 13. Professional Training Scheme for Dis abled People.
- 14. Higher education grants for postgraduate students.
- 15. Rent rebates and allowances.
- 16. Rate rebates.
- 17. Free school meals.
- 18. Higher education awards for students on degree or comparable courses.
- 19. Remission of direct grant school tuition fees.
- 20. Accommodation under Part III of the National Assistance Act 1948.
The list above includes several benefits based on statutory assessments
Year ended 31st March 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 Benefit £m. Per cent. £m. Per cent. £m. Per cent. £m. Per cent. £m. Per cent. Graduated retirement benefit 10 0.4 13 0.5 17 0.6 23 0.7 30 0.8 Earnings-related supplement to sickness benefit 59 2.5 61 2.4 62 2.1 72 2.2 75 1.9 Earnings-related addition to widow's allowance 6 0.3 6 0.2 6 0.2 7 0.2 7 0.2