§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost of increasing the capital element in the Supplementary Benefit (Resources) Regulations to enable (a) all pensioners and (b) all claimants in possession of (i) £3,500, (ii) £4,000, (iii) £5,000 and (iv) £10,000 capital to qualify for benefit.
§ Dr. BoysonSufficient reliable data are not available either to enable precise calculations to be made of the cost of raising the disregard of capital to the levels referred to or to estimate the cost as between different categories of claimant; but our best estimates of the effect on all claimants are as follows:
Level of disregard Cost (millions) £ £ 3,500 10 4,000 20 5,000 30 10,000 70
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what reason the supplementary benefit tables previously included in the leaflet FB2 are no longer published.
§ Dr. BoysonLeaflet FB2 is intended primarily as a basic guide to all benefits, rather than a detailed manual
164Wnumber of geriatrics in National Health Service beds in 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1982, with the number (a) in local authority accommodation, (b) in private nursing home accommodation and (c) within the family for each of these years.
§ Mr. John PattenInformation is not collected in precisely the form requested. The available information is given in the table.
on individual benefits. In order to remain a comparatively short, simple guide, the latest edition was substantially rewritten and redesigned. Although containing less detail than previous editions, more information including supplementary benefit tables can be easily obtained using the order form now in FB2, as well as by asking a local DHSS office. The information on supplementary benefit rates is in leaflets "Cash Help" (SB8) and "Supplementary Benefit for Unemployed People" (SB9).
§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now arrange for the publication of the supplementary benefit tables which used to be at the back of the leaflet SB2.
§ Dr. BoysonThese tables have never been published in leaflet SB2, which deals with supplementary benefit for those involved in trade disputes. The information concerned is currently published in two other leaflets available from local DHSS offices, "Cash Help" (SB8) and "Supplementary Benefit for Unemployed People" (SB9).