§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Prime Minister, why the Government have decided not to meet the shortfall in benefit for one-parent families on long-term supplementary allowance.
§ The Prime MinisterOne-parent families have received particular help from this Government. In addition to improvements in supplementary benefit the family income supplement prescribed income levels haw gone up by between 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. and special one-parent benefit by 65 per cent. since the Government took office. Both these increases are well ahead of price rises. As far as the shortfall in supplementary benefit is concerned, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has already made it clear that final decisions on next year's uprating of benefits will be taken, as usual, next spring.