§ Mr. Frank Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each month since statutory sick pay was introduced the numbers of staff employed in seeing that employers are paying out the correct level of benefit.
Year Benefit Cost Number of claimants* Unemployment Benefit £ million
Supplementary Benefit £ million
Unemployment Benefit† '000
Supplementary Benefit Only '000
Male Female Male Female 1979–80 653 767 380 170 366 119 1980–81 1,280 1,190 685 275 503 177 1981–82 1,702 2,308 885 335 841 244 1982–83 1,500 ║3,550 780 310 1,080 315 1983–84‡ 1,528 ║4,492 705 325 1,255 365 * For 1979–80 to 1981–82 the estimated numbers receiving supplementary benefit only relate to a particular date in November/December each year. The other figures are annual averages. † Including those receiving both benefits. ‡ Estimates. ║ From November 1982 the figures include housing benefit paid to supplementary benefit recipients.
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assumptions were made about the eating habits of claimants when calculating the level of the food element of supplementary benefit.
§ Dr. BoysonThere is no specific amount for food or any other item in the supplementary benefit scale rates. The national assistance rates set in 1948 were based upon an assessment of requirements for food and other essential items, but, although the real value of the scale rates has more than doubled since then, upratings have not been based on the revaluation of particular items.