§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much would be payable by way of a flat grant to all those aged 16 to 19 years who are (a) unemployed, (b) still at school, (c) on supplementary benefit and (d) on youth opportunities programmes if the money that is now being paid out for this age group were equally distributed;
(2) if he will estimate how many would gain and how many would lose if the money that is now being paid out to 16 to 19-year-olds were equally distributed by way of a flat grant to all those in this age group who are (a) unemployed, (b) still at school, (c) on supplementary benefit and (d) on youth opportunities programmes.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI regret that information is not readily available on which to base the calculation requested for this age group and to obtain it would incur disproportionate expense. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) on 27 April there are no plans for making any changes in this area.