HC Deb 07 March 1980 vol 980 cc357-8W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what proportion of initial applications for supplementary benefit does not qualify for benefit;

(2) what are the reasons for the initial applicants for supplementary benefit not being entitled to benefit.

Mrs. Chalker

Initial and repeat claims are not recorded separately for statistical purposes, but in 1979 about 26 per cent. of all claims did not result in payment of benefit.

I regret that there is no statistical information on the circumstances in which benefit was not paid, but doubtless the most common factor was that the claimant's resources exceeded his requirements.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the known rate of error in determining both entitlement to benefit and rate of benefit for all supplementary benefits.

Mrs. Chalker

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 5 March.