§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the average payment to unemployed claimants and their families drawing (a) national insurance unemployment benefit, (b) national insurance benefit and supplementary benefit, and (c) supplementary benefit; and what are the numbers of claimants in each group.
§ Mrs. Chalker[pursuant to her reply 21 November 1979, c. 219]: At 9 November 1978 (1), 402,000 unemployed claimants were receiving unemployment benefit only; 90,000 were receiving unemployment benefit and supplementary allowance; and 515,000 were receiving supplementary allowance only. The average rate payable to those receiving unemployment benefit only was £21.13(2). Information about the average rates payable on the same date to the other two groups is not available; but from a sample of supplementary benefit recipients later on 29 November 1978(1) the average rate payable to those receiving unemployment benefit and supplementary allowance was £31.90, and to those receiving supplementary allowance only, £22.95.
- (1) Latest available dates.
- (2) At the benefit rates applying before the uprating on 16 November 1978.
Source: 5 per cent. sample of unemployed claimants for unemployment benefit or credits; 2 per cent. sample of supplementary benefit recipients.