§ Mr. Sainsburyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of those persons receiving supplementary benefit are home-owners or own the freehold or long leasehold of their home.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAbout 15 per cent. in August 1981.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to provide that, in the cases where a man and woman are living together as if they were married, either the man or the woman may claim benefit on behalf of the family unit.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe Social Security Act 1980 amends the Family Income Supplements Act 1970 and the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976 to provide, with effect from a date to be prescribed, for either the man or the woman of a couple, whether married or living together as if they were married, to claim family income supplement and supplementary benefit respectively for the family unit, subject to conditions to be prescribed. It is intended that these provisions will come into effect in November 1983.
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