§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing, for the present time and for each of the past five years, the assessed needs level under the supplementary benefit scheme for a single woman living on her own; and if he is satisfied that this level currently provides for an adequate subsistence.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe supplementary benefit scale rates for a single householder (male or female) over the period since April 1975 are set out in the table below. These rates are intended to cover normal requirements other than housing costs, which are provided for additionally.
Scale rates introduced in:— Ordinary rate £ Long term rate £ April 1975 9–60 12–00 November 1975 10–90 13–70 November 1976 12–70 15–70 November 1977 14–50 17–90 November 1978 15–55 19–90 November 1979 18–30 23–70 For a helpful examination of the sort of consideration that the second part of the hon. Member's question raises, I refer him to paragraphs 3.2 to 3.13 of the annual report of the Supplementary Benefits Commission for 1978 (Cmnd. 7725).