HC Deb 28 February 1980 vol 979 cc712-3W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many men who have been unemployed for more than one year and are receiving supplementary benefit have children under the age of 16 years; what is the total number of children in these families; and if he will give comparable figures for the last 10 years;

(2) how many unemployed men receiving supplementary benefit have children under the age of 16 years; what is the total number of children in their families; and if he will give comparable figures for the last 10 years;

(3) if he will give for the latest convenient date the number of unemployed people who are receiving supplementary benefit and the percentage this represents of all those unemployed; and if he will publish comparable figures for the past 10 years;

(4) if he will give for the latest convenient date the number of people who have been unemployed for more than one year and are receiving supplementary benefit and the percentage this represents of all those unemployed for more than one year; and if he will give comparable figures for the past 10 years.

Mrs. Chalker

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

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will introduce amending regulations to provide that a claim from any disabled person for non-contributory invalidity pension may be treated as a claim also for supplementary benefit;

(2) if he will introduce amending regulations to provide that a claim for invalidity pension may be treated as a claim also for supplementary benefit.

Mr. Prentice

[pursuant to his reply, 20 February 1980, c. 235–36]: gave the following further replyNo. Those who claim invalidity and non-contributory invalidity pension should have no difficulty in claiming supplementary benefit as well if they wish to do so. I cannot commit staff resources to the investigation of title to supplementary benefit of those who have not indicated that they wish to receive it.

It is, however, the practice of the Supplementary Benefits Commission to backdate a claim for supplementary benefit if the claim was made immediately the claimant learned he was not entitled to social security benefit which he had been assuming would be paid and would be sufficient for his needs.