§ Mrs. Haymanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much it would cost to lower from two years to one year the qualifying period for supplementary benefit long-term addition for (a) all claimants and (b) one-parent families; and how many families would benefit in each case.
§ Mr. O'MalleyTo lower the qualifying period for those categories of claimants who currently qualify after two years would cost about £12 million a year and benefit about 77,000 claimants. To lower it for all claimants, including those not at present qualifying after two years, would cost about £22 million a year and benefit about 139,000 claimants.
On one-parent families I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. Thomas) on 29th January.—[Vol. 904, c. 333.]
§ Mr. Reidasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the increase in annual expenditure on supplementary benefits paid in Scotland since 1965 to the latest available date.
§ Mr. O'MalleyEstimated expenditure on supplementary benefit increased from £30 million in 1965–66 to £96 million in 1974–75.