§ 20. Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons, including dependants, are now estimated to be living on supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. NewtonApproximately 7 million at December 1982.
§ 45. Mr. Bowdenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the maximum single payment limit available under the supplementary benefit regulations for assistance with home repairs and maintenance.
§ Mr. NewtonYes. As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight) on 31 March—[Vol. 40, c.259–60]—a proposal to increase the limit on the cost of repairs that can be met by a supplemenatry benefit single payment from 75W £225 to £325 was included in the proposed amendments to the supplementary benefit regulations which my right hon. Friend has asked the social security advisory committee to consider.
§ 46. Mrs. Faithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people will benefit from the £1,500 supplementary benefit disregard for life insurance policy to be introduced in November.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have no firm information, but the number of people at present excluded from supplementary benefit by virtue of the surrender value of a life insurance policy is probably very small. For those few, however, the change can result in a very substantial improvement in their income, as well as enabling them to retain the protection afforded by the policy.