HC Deb 25 May 1976 vol 912 cc99-100W
23. Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that the supplementary benefit payable to a man with a wife and two children is £35.85—tax free—per week, while if the same man was working and earning a weekly wage of £35.85 he would pay £2.10 income tax and £2.06 national insurance contribution; and what action he intends to take to rectify this situation.

Mr. Orme

The comparison made in the Member's Question does not take account of all the factors involved. It is, therefore, misleading and does not itself call for action.

26. Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single people and heads of families are now estimated to have income below the level qualifying for supplementary benefit.

Mr. Orme

The latest information available is based on the 1974 Family Expenditure Survey and suggests that about 920,000 families in Great Britain had incomes below the supplementary benefit level but were not in receipt of supplementary benefit. Of these, about 680,000 were single people without children and 240,000 were other families. The figures do not indicate unclaimed entitlement to supplementary benefit since they include a considerable number who would be ineligible for other reasons.