Supplementary Benefit (Hansard, 24 July 1978)

§ Mr. Ralph Howell
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the information given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 28th July 1977, c. 589–90.

§ Mr. Orme
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th June 1978; Vol. 951, c. 105], gave the following information:
units for the newborn per 10,000 births; when he expects this level to be reached throughout the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is the optimum number of cots in special care baby units per 10,000 births; when he expects this level to be reached throughout the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Moyle
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th June 1978; Vol. 952, c. 671–2], gave the following information:
Inquiries have revealed that the number of special care cots per 1,000 live births in Regions varies from 5.81 to 8.73.
HC(76)40 and the report of the Working Party on the Prevention of Early Neonatal Mortality and Morbidity recommended that intensive care for very vulnerable babies should be concentrated in combined special and intensive care units of which one or two would be required per region. This was not intended to 559W exclude the continuing practice of intensive care in other special care baby units as and when required. Until such time as regions have been able to implement fully the working party's recommendations, it will be difficult to distinguish between degrees of special and intensive care and full information on the amount and location of intensive care practised in regions could be provided only through the most exhaustive inquiries.
I am informed by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales that in Wales intensive care is given in special care units; the number of cots available for intensive care exceeds four per 10,000 live births.

Benefit or allowance Weekly amount for each qualifying child Whether this amount is taxable

Child benefit … … £3.00 No

Child benefit increase … … £2.00 No

Unemployment benefit:

1. Where the beneficiary is under pensionable age … … £1.85 No

2. Where the beneficiary is over pensionable age … … £6.35 No

Sickness benefit:

1. Where the beneficiary is under pensionable age … … £1.85 No

2. Where the beneficiary is over pensionable age … … £6.35 No

Invalidity pension … … £6.35 No

Maternity allowance … … £1.85 No

Widow's allowance … … £6.35 Yes^*

Widowed mother's allowance … … £6.35 Yes^*

Retirement pension … … £6.35 Yes^*

Child's special allowance … … £6.35 Yes^*

Non-contributory invalidity pension … … £6.35 No

Invalid care allowance … … £6.35 Yes^*

Injury benefit … … £1.85 No

Disablement benefit (unemployability supplement) … … £6.35 No

Industrial death benefit:

Higher rate … … £6.35 Yes^*

Lower rate … … £1.85 Yes^*

Guardian's allowance … … £6.35 Yes^*

†Supplementary benefit:

Age under 5 … … £4.40 No

Age 5–10 … … £5.30 No

Age 11–12 … … £6.55 No

Age 13–15 … … £7.95 No

Age 16–17 … … £9.55 No

Age 18 and over … … £12.45 No

† Family income supplement … … Payable up to a maximum of £10.50 where there is one child; the maximum is increased by £1 for each extra child No

War widow's pension … … £7.95 No

Motherless and fatherless children (War pension scheme) … … £8.90 Yes

Unemployability supplement (War pension scheme) … … £6.35 No

Additional treatment allowance (War pension scheme) … … £6.35 No

Basic war disability pension … … Between 8p and 38p according to degree of pensioner's disablement No

^* The first £80 in 1978–79 of each payment is not taxable.

† Child benefit would be taken into account as income when arriving at the amount of award.

Benefit or allowance	Weekly amount for each qualifying child	Whether this amount is taxable
Child benefit	…	…	£3.00	No
Child benefit increase	…	…	£2.00	No
Unemployment benefit:
1. Where the beneficiary is under pensionable age	…	…	£1.85	No
2. Where the beneficiary is over pensionable age	…	…	£6.35	No
Sickness benefit:
1. Where the beneficiary is under pensionable age	…	…	£1.85	No
2. Where the beneficiary is over pensionable age	…	…	£6.35	No
Invalidity pension	…	…	£6.35	No
Maternity allowance	…	…	£1.85	No
Widow's allowance	…	…	£6.35	Yes^*
Widowed mother's allowance	…	…	£6.35	Yes^*
Retirement pension	…	…	£6.35	Yes^*
Child's special allowance	…	…	£6.35	Yes^*
Non-contributory invalidity pension	…	…	£6.35	No
Invalid care allowance	…	…	£6.35	Yes^*
Injury benefit	…	…	£1.85	No
Disablement benefit (unemployability supplement)	…	…	£6.35	No
Industrial death benefit:
Higher rate	…	…	£6.35	Yes^*
Lower rate	…	…	£1.85	Yes^*
Guardian's allowance	…	…	£6.35	Yes^*
†Supplementary benefit:
Age under 5	…	…	£4.40	No
Age 5–10	…	…	£5.30	No
Age 11–12	…	…	£6.55	No
Age 13–15	…	…	£7.95	No
Age 16–17	…	…	£9.55	No
Age 18 and over	…	…	£12.45	No
† Family income supplement	…	…	Payable up to a maximum of £10.50 where there is one child; the maximum is increased by £1 for each extra child	No
War widow's pension	…	…	£7.95	No
Motherless and fatherless children (War pension scheme)	…	…	£8.90	Yes
Unemployability supplement (War pension scheme)	…	…	£6.35	No
Additional treatment allowance (War pension scheme)	…	…	£6.35	No
Basic war disability pension	…	…	Between 8p and 38p according to degree of pensioner's disablement	No
^* The first £80 in 1978–79 of each payment is not taxable.
† Child benefit would be taken into account as income when arriving at the amount of award.