§ Mr. Charles Irving asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of Department of Health and Social Security payments for all benefits paid out to the unemployed; what is the annual cost for each of the following categories (a) man, wife plus one child, (b) man, wife plus two children, (c) single woman, and (d) single man, taking into account all benefits other than disability.
§ Mrs. Chalker:The total sum paid to the unemployed by way of unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit is about £4 billion. It is regretted that the analysis requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. In addition, the unemployed are eligible for other social security benefits, but separate records for the claims to these benefits by unemployed people are not maintained.
Mr. Ernie Ross asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of average earnings for men represents unemployment benefit requirements.
§ Mrs. Chalker:I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 July 1981.—[Vol. 9, c. 223-24.] The tables in sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the "Abstract of Statistics" compare unemployment benefit rates with average earnings; those in section 6.4 make similar comparisons using the short-term supplementary benefit rates.
Mr. Alton asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to amend regulation 4, paragraph 7 of the Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Regulations 1980 in order that the term "dependant" may include persons incapacitated by reason of chronic disability.
§ Mrs Chalker:The effect of regulation 4(7) of the Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Regulations 1980, as now amended by regulations 3(4) (b) and (c) of the Supplementary Benefit (Requirements and Resources) Amendment Regulations 1981—SI 1981 No 1016—is that money held on trust for a child or a person aged 19 or under receiving relevant education is not taken into account in deciding the parent's entitlement to supplementary benefit where the money derives from a payment in consequence of a personal or criminal injury to that child. The point is that, in so far as such a payment recognises that the injury has reduced the injured person's capacity to support himself, this consideration applies only when he is of an 183W age to do so but for the injury, and is eligible to apply for supplementary benefit in his own right. To extend the disregard of such a payment as the hon. Member suggests would be inconsistent with this. Nevertheless, as the hon. Member will know, we are reviewing the operation of the capital rule for supplementary benefit, although I can give no commitment at this stage as to the outcome.
Mr. Winnick asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the next proposed increase in unemployment and related benefits.
§ Mrs. Chalker:The standard rates of unemployment and sickness benefit go up on 23 November next from £20.65 to £22.50 for a single person, and from £33.40 to £36.40 for a married couple. A further uprating of benefits will follow within 12 months of it, and we expect to bring proposals before the House next spring, in accordance with past precedents.