§ 43. Mr. Prenticeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total estimated expenditure on help with heating costs in the current financial year.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAbout £220 million in the current financial year. At the benefit rates introduced last month, expenditure during the 12 months to November 1982 will total more than £250 million.
§ 47. Mr. Foxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the increase in the basic heating addition between May 1979 and December 1981.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIn May 1979 the basic rate of the heating addition paid with supplementary benefit was the November 1978 rate of 85p. It was increased to 95p in November 1979, to £1.40 in November 1980, and is now £1.65—an increase of about 94 per cent. over the November 1978 rate.
§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the information given to the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson) on 22 June 1981, Official Report, c. 19, on the number of estates recognised as having disproportionately high costs in terms of 382W paragraph 5 of schedule 3 to the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations; and if he will state the numbers of estates so designated, by region.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI am not yet able to add to my earlier reply, but will give the House more information as soon as I can.
§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will specify the number of estates recognised as having disproportionately high costs in. terms in paragraph 5 of schedule 3 to the Supplementary Benefits (Requirements) Regulations, where claimants have failed to qualify for an additional weekly allowance on the grounds that a central heating addition already meets their needs.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that this information is not available.
§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of heating additions awarded (a) under paragraph 1 of schedule 3, part 1 and (b) under paragraph 2 of schedule 3, part 1, of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements) Regulations are paid at the higher rate; and what proportion of heating additions paid at the lower rate are increased to the higher rate after (i) an application for appeal has been submitted and (ii) an appeal has been heard.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The hon. Member may, however, wish to know that our latest estimate is that about 1,174,000 supplementary benefit claimants are currently receiving a heating addition at the basic rate and about 408.000 at the higher rate.