§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current value of dependant's additions paid with short-term supplementary benefit: and how this compares with their value at May 1979 at constant prices.
§ Mrs. ChalkerInformation is not available in the form requested, because supplementary benefit is an overall262W needs payment based on scale rates of entitlement. There are different rates for married couples, single people and children. However, the information in the following table relates to children's scale rates:
Scale rate at May 1979 * Expressed at October 1981 prices Actual rate from 23 November 1981 0–5 £4.40 £6.19 ‡£7.90 (0–10 rate) 5–10 £5.30 † £7.46 11–12 £6.55 £9.21 £11.90 (11–15 rate) 13–15 £7.95 † £11.18 16–17 £9.55 £13.43 £14.30 Notes:
* based on the movement of the general index of retail prices up to October 1981—the latest date for which figures are available.
† Supplementary benefit children's rates were reduced in number from five to three in November 1980.
‡ As well as the 0–10 scale rate, supplementary beneficiaries who are householders with children under 5 receive an age-related heating addition of £1.65.