§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the expenditure on supplementary benefit (a) at current prices and (b) at 1977 survey prices in 1965, 1970, 1975, 1977 and 1978.
§ Mrs. ChalkerExpenditure on supplementary benefit was as follows:
(a) (b) Year At current prices At 1977 survey prices £ million £ million 1965–66 246 775 1970–71 524 1,307 1975–76 1,187 1,560 1977–78 1,847 1,847 1978–79 2,018 1,863
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is (a) the cost of administration of supplementary benefit and (b) the cost of supplementary benefit payments at current prices for the most recent year for which comparable figures are available.
§ Mrs. ChalkerFor 1978–79, the latest financial year for which firm figures are available, the cost of administration of supplementary benefit was estimated to be £280 million and the benefit expenditure £2,018 million.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount of supplementary benefit paid in the last 12 months by reason of payment of national insurance benefits from Newcastle being unduly delayed; and how much of this total has been recovered subsequently.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is not possible to say what the total of such payments has been, but standing arrangements are designed to ensure that, when supplementary benefit is paid in these circumstances, an equivalent amount is withheld from the delayed national insurance benefit when it becomes payable.