HC Deb 15 December 1978 vol 960 cc630-2W
Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many means-tested benefits are reckoned on net income and how many on gross income.

Mr. Orme,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 12th December 1978; Vol. 960, c. 134], gave the following information:

The following are on net income bases:

  1. 1. Supplementary benefit;
  2. 2. Free milk and vitamins;
  3. 3. Help with National Health Service charges for dental treatment, dentures and glasses; prescriptions; wigs and fabric supports;
  4. 4. Patients' hospital travelling expenses;
  5. 5. Legal aid (civil);
  6. 6. Legal advice and assistance;
  7. 7. Legal aid (criminal);
  8. 8. Accommodation under part III of the National Assistance Act 1948;
  9. 9. Professional training scheme for disabled people;
  10. 10. Free school meals;
  11. 11. Awards for students taking certain postgraduate courses;
  12. 12. Awards for students on first degree or comparable courses or initial teacher training courses and courses leading to the Diploma of Higher Education, the Higher National Diploma, or the Higher Diplomas of TEC and BEC ; and
  13. 13. Awards for students at long-term adult residential colleges.

The following are on gross income bases:

  1. 1. Family income supplement;
  2. 2. Rent rebates and allowances;
  3. 3. Rate rebates; and
  4. 4. Remission of direct grant school tuition fees.

Perinatal mortality Stillbirths and deaths under one week of age
Infant mortality
Deaths under one year of age
By legitimacy
Legitimate Illegitimate Legitimate Illegitimate
1948 28,273 2,273 24,855 1,911
1949 26,324 2,045 22,205 1,677
1950 24,879 1,811 19,418 1,399
1951 24,715 1,772 18,948 1,275
1952 24,146 1,688 17,417 1,138
1953 24,182 1,626 17,251 1,073
1954 24,657 1,591 16,143 1,017
1955 24,010 1,569 15,627 986
1956 24,701 1,633 15,600 954
1957 25,084 1,708 15,684 1,036
1958 24,783 1,719 15,680 1,005
1959 24,302 1,768 15,585 1,044
1960 24,478 1,816 15,991 1,127
1961 24,447 2,048 16,168 1,225
1962 24,064 2,288 16,677 1,510
1963 23,249 2,238 16,506 1,536
1964 22,683 2,400 15,780 1,665
1965 21,220 2,353 14,746 1,649
1966 20,l355 2,334 14,501 1,646
1967 19,057 2,416 13,611 1,655
1968 18,266 2,264 13,350 1,632
1969 16,797 2,086 12.670 1,721
1970 16,629 2,042 12,574 1,693
1971 15,674 1,975 12,051 1,669
1972 14,153 1790 11,090 1,408
1973 12,786 1,588 10,076 1,331
1974 11,614 1,555 9,183 1,276
1975 10,336 1,433 8,252 1,236
1976 9,170 1,302 7,230 1,104
1977 8,491 1,266 6,786 1,055
Equivalent rates were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) on 30th November 1978—[Vol. 959, c. 306–8].

The schemes listed above, some of which are the responsibility of Departments other than the Department of Health and Social Security, are administered centrally or on a statutory basis by local authorities.

A number of benefits and services are administered by local authorities on a discretionary basis. It is not, however, possible to say which of these are administered on a net or gross income basis since the method of income determination is itself a matter for the individual local authority to decide.

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