HC Deb 26 October 1977 vol 936 cc734-7W
Mr. Viggers

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all benefits, other than discretionary benefits, the amount of which is not readily quantifiable, payable through or administered by his Department, giving details of (a) the date upon which the benefit or grant first became payable, (b) the amount of the benefit or grant payable at that date, (c) the amount of such benefit or grant which was payable on 1st March 1974, (d) the amount of such benefit or grant which was payable at the latest convenient date, and (e) the current purchasing power of

Benefit║ Date of introduction Rate of date of introduction Rate at 1st March 1974 Rate at November 1976 Rate at November 1977 Current equivalent in purchasing power of rate at date of introduction*
£ £ £ £ £
Attendance Allowance:
Higher Rate 6.12.71 4.80 6.20 12.20 14.00 10.81
Lower Rate 4.6.73 3.60 4.15 8.15 9.30 7.17
Child Benefit Increase (single parent) 5.4.77 0.50 — — 0.50 0.51
Child's Special Allowance 18.11.57 0.825 3.80 7.45 7.40‡ 3.21
Constant Attendance Allowance 5.7.48 1.00 5.15 10.00 11.40 5.94
Death Grant 5.7.49 20.00 30.00 30.00 30.00 114.44
Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance 6.4.66 3.00 5.15 10.00 11.40 9.21
Family Allowance/Child Benefit§:
First Child 5.4.77 1.00 — — 1.00 l.03†
Second Child 6.8.46 0.25 0.90 1.50 1.50 l.59†
Family Income Supplement:
Maximum amount payable for
One child family 3.8.71 4.00 5.00 8.50 9.50 9.17
Two child family 3.8.71 4.00 5.00 9.00 10.50 9.17
Three child family 3.8.71 4.00 6.00 9.50 11.50 9.17
Amount added for each additional child 22.7.75 0.50 — 0.50 1.00 0.67
Guardian's Allowance 5.7.48 0.60 3.80 7.45 7.40 ‡ 3.57
Industrial Death Benefit: 5.7.48
Higher Rate (payable first 26 weeks) 1.80 10.85 21.40 24.50 10.70
Ordinary Rate 1.50 8.30 15.85 18.05 8.92
Industrial Disablement Benefit (100 per cent.) 5.7.48 2.25 12.80 25.00 28.60 13.37
Injury Benefit: 5.7.48
Single Person 2.25 10.10 15.65 17.45 13.37
Married Couple 3.05 14.65 23.65 26.55 18.13
Invalid Care Allowance: 5.7.76
Single Person 7.90 — 9.20 10.50 9.39
Married Couple 12.80 — 14.80 16.80 15.21
Invalidity Allowance: 23.9.71
Higher Rate 1.00 1.60 3.20 3.70 2.29
Middle Rate 0.60 1.00 2.00 2.30 1.37
Lower Rate 0.30 0.50 1.00 1.15 0.69
Invalidity Pension: 23.9.71
Single Person 6.00 7.75 15.30 17.50 13.74
Married Couple 9.70 12.50 24.50 28.00 22.22
Maternity Benefit: 5.7.48
Grant 4.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 23.78
Allowance 1.80 7.35 12.90 14.70 10.70
Mobility Allowance 1.1.76 5.00 — 5.00 7.00 6.28
Non Contributory Invalidity Pension: 20.11.75
Single Person 7.90 — 9.20 10.50 10.17
Married Couple 12.80 — 14.80 16.80 16.48
Old Person's Pension: 2.11.70
Man or Woman 3.00 4.65 9.20 10.50 7.42
Married Women 1.85 2.85 5.60 6.30 4.58

benefit or grant expressed in terms of the effective value of money on the date when each benefit or grant was first introduced, in such a manner as to show the current purchasing power of the benefit or grant at the day on which each such benefit or grant was first payable.

Deakins:

The information is given in the table below:

Benefit║ Date of introduction Rate at date of introduction Rate at 1st March 1974 Rate at November 1976 Rate atNovember 1977 Current equivalent in purchasing power of rate at date of introduction*
£ £ £ £ £
Retirement Pension: 5.7.48
Single Person 1.30 7.75 15.30 17.50 7.73
Married Couple 2.10 12.50 24.50 28.00 12.48
Special Hardship Allowance 5.7.48 1.00 5.12 10.00 11.44 5.94
Supplementary Benefit: 5.7.48
Single Person 1.20 7.15 12.70 14.50 7.13
Married Couple 2.00 11.65 20.65 23.55 11.89
Unemployment Supplement 5.7.48 1.00 7.75 15.30 17.50 5.94
Unemployment/Sickness: 5.7.48
Single Person 1.30 7.35 12.90 14.70 7.73
Married Couple 2.10 11.90 20.90 23.80 12.48
War Pensions: 1.4.17
Ex-Private 100 per cent. Assessment 1.38 12.80 25.00 28.60 10.18†
War Widow 0.69 10.10 19.80 22.70 5.09†
Widow's Benefit:
Widows Allowance 6.7.48 1.80 10.85 21.40 24.50 10.70
Widowed Mothers' Allowance—personal rate 6.7.48 1.68 7.75 15.30 17.50 9.96
Widow's Pension 6.7.48 1.30 7.75 15.30 17.50 7.73
Age-related Widows Pension: 5.4.71
Age 40 1.50 2.33 4.59 5.25 3.51
Age 49 4.65 7.21 14.23 16.28 10.88
* Based on the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices to September 1977, the latest date for which a figure is available.
† Based on the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices linked with the cost of living index.
‡ Child benefit payable in addition from 4th April 1977.
§ Paid in addition to increases for children payable with other benefits.
║Excluding earnings-related supplements to short-term benefits and graduated pensions which are not readily qualifiable.