§ Mr. Dorrellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the net cost of extending the long-term rate of supplementary benefit (i) to all the long-term unemployed who currently do not qualify for it and (ii) to the long-term unemployed with children who do not 190W currently qualify, in a full year at November 1984 benefit rates on the assumptions in the public expenditure White Paper—Cmnd. 8789.
§ Dr. BoysonThe cost in a full year at November 1984 benefit rates of extending the long-term rate of supplementary benefit to unemployed persons who do not currently qualify, on the assumptions in the public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 8789), is estimated at:
£ million i. all unemployed persons 500 ii. unemployed with children 230
§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures showing the numbers of (a) adults and (b) persons, distinguishing between those above and those below pensionable age, with incomes (i) below supplementary benefit levels, (ii) drawing supplementary benefit and (iii) up to 140 per cent. of supplementary benefit, for each year that analysis of the family expenditure survey along these lines has been undertaken.
§ Dr. BoysonThe analysis to which I believe my hon. Friend is referring has been undertaken for the years 1972–1977 inclusive, 1979 and 1981 and copies are lodged in the Library of the House under the general title "Low Income Families". I refer him to these for the number of families and persons in those families analysed by the various categories detailed in the question. The tables indicate families whose head is of pensionable age, but not the number of adults in that category. The latter information is not immediately available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.