§ Mrs. Haymanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost per annum of reducing the qualifying period for long-term addition to supplementary benefits from two years to one year and six months, respectively; and how many claimants would benefit in each case.
§ Mr. Alec JonesTo reduce the qualifying period for the long-term addition to supplementary benefit from two years to
208Wtribunals, respectively, for the latest available year.
§ Mr. Alec JonesOf 57,910 appeals lodged against determinations made by the Supplementary Benefits Commission in 1974, 27,247 were ultimately heard by supplementary benefit appeal tribunals. Details are as follows:
one year would cost approximately £12 million at current rates of benefit and would benefit about 110,000 claimants. To reduce the qualifying period to six months would cost approximately £19 million and benefit about 175,000 claimants.