§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the latest estimates laid before Parliament for an expenditure on supplementary benefits of £5,455,000,000 assumes a 71 per cent. take-up rate.
§ Dr. BoysonThe estimates are not based on any explicit assumption about take-up, but they are consistent with the data from which the figure of 71 per cent. was derived.
§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants, affecting how many children, will lose their child dependency additions to long-term benefits when the Government's proposed means test for this benefit comes into existence.
§ Dr. BoysonNone. The proposed earnings condition, which will be a test of the financial dependency of the child on the claimant, will apply only to claims arising after the new legislation comes into force.