§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married couples are receiving supplementary benefit in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales at the latest available date; what were the figures in March 1982; and what is the estimated cost in this financial year and for the last financial year.
§ Mr. NewtonThe numbers at December 1981, the latest date for which information is available, and the approximate costs for the year 1981–82 were as follows:
England Scotland Wales Number (thousands) 695 76 49 Approximate cost (£ million) 1,270 140 90 Information for the current year is not available.
Source:
Annual statistical inquiry and expenditure in 1981–82—regular weekly payments of supplementary benefit only.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing for (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales the number of children in respect of which supplementary benefit is being paid in each part of the
198W
Benefit Date of highest rate in real terms Actual rate at date in col. (2) Rate at November 1982 prices Actual rate at November 1982 Net cost raising November 1982 rate to rate in col. (4) in a full year (£ per week) (£ per week) (£ per week) (£ million) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Invalidity benefit November 1979 23.30 31.97 31.45 25 Sickness benefit November 1977 14.70 25.58 25.00 6 United Kingdom in each of the age bands, under 11 years, 11 years to 15 years, 16 years to 17 years and those over 18 years, indicating for each band and area the total sums estimated for the current financial year and the sums required for the last financial year.
§ Mr. NewtonThe numbers of dependent children in families receiving supplementary benefit at December 1981, the latest date for which information is available, were as follows:
England thousands Scotland thousands Wales thousands Under 11 years 870 103 69 11–15 years 374 51 26 16–17 years 45 4 31 18–19 years 4 * * * Less than 500. Supplementary benefit for dependent children is paid as part of the total supplementary benefit award to their parents and the cost cannot be separately identified. The current scale rates are £8.75 for children under 11, £13.15 for children aged 11 to 15, £15.80 for children aged 16 to 17, and £20.55 for a dependent aged 18 to 19.
§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single householders in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales, respectively, are receiving supplementary benefit at the latest available date; what were the figures in March 1982; and what is the estimated cost in the current financial year and the cost for the last financial year.
§ Mr. NewtonThe numbers at December 1981, the latest date for which information is available, and the approximate costs for the year 1981–82 were as follows:
England Scotland Wales Number (thousands) 1,747 188 114 Approximate cost (£ million) 2,030 210 125 Information for the current financial year is not available.
Source: Annual statistical inquiry and expenditure in 1981–82—regular weekly payments of supplementary benefit only.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each class of benefit the highest rate payable since 1975 in real terms and his estimate of the cost in 1983–84 of raising the benefit to this rate.
§ Mr. NewtonIn the majority of benefits the highest rate payable since 1975 in real terms is the November 1982 rate currently in force. The following table shows those benefits which had a higher real value at an earlier date since 1975 and the net cost of increasing the current rates to these levels: 199W
Benefit Date of highest rate in real terms Actual rate at date in col. (2) Rate at November 1982 prices Actual rate at November 1982 Net cost raising November 1982 rate to rate in col. (4) in a full year {£ per week) (£ per week) (£ per week) (£ million) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Unemployment benefit November 1977 14.70 25.58 25.00 30 Maternity allowance November 1977 14.70 25.58 25.00 4 Child benefit April 1979 4.00 6.09 5.85 125