§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the numbers of old people who would cease to be eligible for supplementary benefit if the national insurance old-age pension was raised by £2 for a single person and £2.75 for a married couple;
(2) what would be the effect on the number of unemployed claiming supplementary benefits if the flat-rate unemployment benefit was raised by £2 for a single person and £2.75 for a married couple.
§ Mr. Alec JonesOn the basis of the numbers of retirement pensioners and recipients of unemployment benefit receiving supplementary benefit in November 1973, the latest available figures from which an estimate can be made, about 750,000 and 17,000 respectively would cease to receive supplementary benefit. But this assumes no accompanying increase in the supplementary benefit scale rates, with the result that the increases in contributory benefits would be of no financial advantage to those remaining on supplementary benefit.