§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the current level of the earnings disregard for those receiving supplementary benefit if it had increased in line with prices since its introduction in 1966; what would be the cost of increasing the disregard in the case of one parent claimants only to (a) this level and (b) £8; and in each case how many would benefit.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe current level of the £4 disregard would need to be £4.76. The annual cost of increasing the earnings disregard for single parents to that level would be of the order of £500,000 and the cost of increasing it to £8 would be of the order of £2 million. About 14,000 claimants would benefit in each case. This does not take account of single parents not at present entitled to benefit who might be attracted to claim.