§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total net cost in the current financial year of each of child tax allowances, child benefit, family income supplement, free welfare milk, free school meals and of each of the various child additions paid to recipients of national insurance and other social security benefits.
§ Mr. OrmeThe estimated net cost in 1977–78 is:
£ million Child tax allowances 870 Child benefit after taking into account the effect of the reduction in child tax allowances and the effect on child dependancy additions 630 Family income supplement 22 Free welfare milk 21 Free school meals—remission of charge 44* Child dependancy additions to recipients of national insurance benefits 265 Child dependancy additions to recipients of other social security benefits. In respect of supplementary benefits this is the estimated amount included in the assessment, offset by the national insurance dependancy and child benefits in payment 200 Total 2,052 * Does not include any estimate of the cost of the general subsidy on school meals.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what percentage social security benefits have increased during the last five years.
§ Mr. OrmeSince September 1971, national insurance pensions and other long-term benefits have increased in cash terms by 155 per cent. for single persons and by 153 per cent. for married couples. Short-term benefits have increased by 115 per cent. for single persons and married couples. These figures exclude, of course, the further increase in benefits already announced for this November.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the population of the United Kingdom is currently drawing social security benefits; what was the 486W equivalent figure: (a) 10 years ago and (b) 20 years ago.
§ Mr. OrmeThe available information is given below:
GREAT BRITAIN Average number of social security benefit payments being made at any one time as a percentage of the total population Year per cent 1956 … … … … 24 1966 … … … … 29 1976 … … … … 35 NOTES
1. The term "social security benefit" covers both contributory and non-contributory benefits, including family allowance/child benefit.
2. Two or more different benefits may be concurrently payable to the same person.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the longest period of time for which a person can continue to receive social security benefits.
§ Mr. OrmeThis depends on the benefit and on the duration of the contingency in respect of which it is being paid. For a severely disabled school leaver who never becomes able to work, for example, the duration may be from age 16 to death.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people under the age of 21 years are currently in receipt of social security benefits.
§ Mr. OrmeInformation covering the whole range of social security benefits is not available, but the latest available estimate of the number of persons aged under 21 in receipt of supplementary benefit, widow's benefit, unemployment benefit, or family income supplement, plus the number aged under 20 in receipt of sickness benefit, invalidity benefit, disablement benefit, attendance allowance or mobility allowance, is 370,000.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were in receipt of social security benefits on 1st May 1976; and what is the corresponding figure for 1st May 1977.
§ Mr. OrmeI regret that actual figures are not yet available for dates later than 1975. Information about the estimated 487W average numbers receiving the main social security benefits at any one time for the years 1970–71 to 1979–80 is, however, given on pages 100–101 of "Public Expenditure to 1979–80" (Cmnd. 6393).