HC Deb 30 November 1979 vol 974 cc829-30W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many supplementary benefit claimants have dependants aged under five years;

(2) how many supplementary benefit claimants are aged 75 years and over; and how many dependants are covered by these claimants;

(3) how many claimants have had (a) direct payment deduction from the benefit for fuel and (b) a savings deduction for fuel, for each year since 1974; and if he will classify the information by the amount of the deduction or saving by convenient categories;

(4) if he will update table 10.1 in the Supplementary Benefits Commission report for 1977;

(5) if he will detail the number of deductions for (a) electricity and (b) gas bills currently being made from a claimant's weekly benefit; and if these data could be classified according to weekly deductions (a) under £1, (b) over £1 but less than £2, (c) over £2 but less than £3, (d) over £3 but less than £4. (e) over £4 but less than £5, (f) over £5 but less than £6, (g) over £6 but less than £7. (h) over £7 but less than £8, (i) over £8 but less than £9, (j) over £9 but less than £10 and (k) over £10;

(6) if he will update table 12.3 in the Supplementary Benefits Commission annual report 1976;

(7) how much the Supplementary Benefits Commission has paid out to claimants in (a) extra weekly payments and (b) lump sum payments for each year since 1970; and if these data could be classified according to (i) the number of claimants helped in each category and (ii) the average payment to each group.

Mrs. Chalker

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.