§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all those benefits for which he is responsible, and indicate in each case the present rate of the benefit and the rate of that benefit that would apply if it were to have the same value as it had on the day following its uprating in November 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonThe following table compares the present rates of the main social security benefits and war pensions for a single person with the equivalent value at November 1981. of the rates set in November 1979, based on the increase in the retail price index between November 1979 and November 1981. It should be noted that for most rates the difference between the two amounts results primarily from the fact that the increase in prices during the 12 months up to November 1981 was higher than that expected. As my right hon. Friend announced on 10 March—[Vol. 19, c. 850–65]—we intend to restore fully this accidental shortfall from November 1982.
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Benefit November 1981 rate Equivalent value* £ £ Attendance Allowance —Higher rate 23.65 24.01 —Lower rate 15.75 16.01 Child benefit† (per child) 5.25 5.16 Child's special allowance 7.70 9.17 Death grant 30.00 38.73 Family income supplement (prescribed amount for one child family) 74.00 72.30 Guardian's allowance 7.70 9.17 Industrial injury benefit 25.25 27.44 Industrial death benefit widows —First 26 weeks 41.40 42.09
Benefit November 1981 rate Equivalent value* £ £ —Higher permanent rate 30.15 30.79 —Lower permanent rate 8.88 9.02 Widowers 30.15 30.79 Industrial disablement benefit (100 per cent, assessment) 48.30 49.06 Invalid care allowance 17.75 18.08 Invalidity pension 28.35 30.08 Maternity allowance 22.50 23.89 Maternity grant 25.00 32.28 Mobility allowance 16.50 15.49 Non-contributory invalidity pension 17.75 18.08 Non-contributory retirement pension One-parent benefit 3.30 3.23 Retirement pension 29.60 30.08 Sickness benefit 22.50 23.89 Supplementary allowance ordinary weekly scale rate single householder 23.25 23.63 long-term weekly scale rate single householder 29.60 30.60 Supplementary pension —single householder 29.60 30.60 Unemployment benefit 22.50 23.89 War disablement pension (100 per cent. for private) 48.30 49.06 War widow's pension—standard rate for private's widow 38.45 38.99 Widow's allowance 41.40 42.09 Widowed mother's allowance 29.60 30.08 Widow's pension * Of November 1979 rates at November 1981 prices. † The child benefit rate was set in April 1979.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the numbers of claimants of supplementary benefit who move on and off benefit (a) weekly, (b) monthly and (c) three monthly; and what is his estimate of the effect on these numbers of the Social Security and Housing Benefits Bill.
§ Mr. RossiI regret that up-to-date information is not available in the form requested, and I am therefore unable to estimate the effect of the Social Security and Housing Benefits Bill on the number of claimants of supplementary benefit moving on and off benefit for short periods.