HC Deb 21 December 1982 vol 34 c485W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why amounts are deducted under regulation 22 of the Supplementary Benefits (Requirements) Regulations 1980 in respect of a child over the age of 19 years who lives with his parents and is undertaking full-time education but receiving no maintenance award; if the situation will be changed with the introduction of housing benefit; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

It is not the practice to make inquiries about the circumstances of such students and the current position is as indicated in the question. This will change on the introduction of housing benefit. Regulation 18 of the Housing Benefits Regulations 1982 provides that no deductions shall be made in respect of such students and a similar amendment will shortly be proposed to the appropriate supplementary benefit regulation.

1 October 1979 1 October 1980 1 October 1981 1 October 1982
Leeds North 124 132 137 140
Leeds North West 97 106 112 114
Leeds South 67 73 77 84
Leeds West 72 77 80 85
Leeds South East (AO) 66 70 73 83

Information on staff in post is not generally split between the supplementary benefits and contributory benefits sides of the work. The figures given are for the complement, that is the number of staff allocated to cope with the workloads then current.

I draw the hon. Member's attention to the guide to the Department's local office complementing system now in the Library, which explains the complex relationship between staffing levels and workloads.

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