§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit claims are at present subject to the wage stop; and what is the average amount of the reduction in benefit.
§ Mr. Alec JonesIn November 1974, the number of claimants who had their supplementary allowances limited by a wage stop is provisionally estimated at about 8,000. In November 1973, the 337W latest date for which such information is available, the average wage stop reduction was £2.01.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will introduce legislation to place a limit on the amount by which supplementary benefit may be reduced by the wage stop rule.
§ Mr. Alec JonesWe have, at present, no plans to introduce such legislation.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will review the methods used to determine wage levels used in calculating wage stop deductions from supplementary benefits.
§ Mr. Alec JonesIt is for the Supplementary Benefits Commission to determine the wage levels used in calculating wage stop deductions and it has recently authorised higher figures for use in cases where the claimant's normal earnings cannot be ascertained.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many supplementary benefit claimants who are subject to the wage stop are registered as disabled people.
§ Mr. Alec JonesThe information is not available. Claimants who have substantial disablements would not normally have their benefit wage-stopped.
§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish a breakdown of the figures for supplementary benefit claimants subject to the wage stop by family size.
§ Mr. Alec JonesIn November 1973, the latest date for which such information is available, the breakdown was as follows:
No. of Children No. of Claimants None 176 One 176 Two 698 Three 1,402 Four 1,876 Five or more 6,007