§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate how much money is being spent a year through the supplementary benefit system to maintain elderly persons and homeless persons, respectively, in private homes, hotels or guest houses; and what proportion this represents of the supplementary benefit budget which can be identified, respectively, with the needs of (a) elderly persons and (b) homeless persons.
§ Dr. BoysonThe information is not available in the form requested.
At December 1982, the numbers of supplementary pensioners in Great Britain assessed as boarders in the various categories of board and lodging accommodation, and the average weekly payment of supplementary pension to them, were as follows:
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Numbers Average benefit payment £ Voluntary and private residential care and nursing homes (excluding people supported by local authorities and health authorities) 14,000 47.27 Hostels or common lodging houses Other board and lodging accommodation, 4,000 27.85 including hotels and guest-houses 9,000 26.20 Source:
Annual Statistical Inquiry.
The average benefit payment does not strictly reflect the amount needed to maintain the recipient in the accommodation concerned, as it includes an allowance to cover personal expenses but is net of any resources, such as retirement pension, which fall to be taken into account in the supplementary benefit assessment.
At December 1982 there were 1,780,000 supplementary pensioners in total. In the financial year 1982–83, expenditure on supplementary pension and on housing benefit paid to supplementary pensioners amounted to £1,640 million.
(Source Public Expenditure White Paper: Cmnd. 9143.)
Payments to homeless people are not identified separately.