§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list each benefit operative in May 1979 which remains in being; and, in respect of each, if he will estimate the amount of money currently spent above the level which would be spent if 1979 values in real terms were paid.
§ Dr. BoysonThe benefits in question are those listed in my reply to the hon. Member on Wednesday 24 February, at columns240–47, for which a rate is given at both dates. There have been substantial changes to the rules of eligibility for several of these benefits so that the information requested could not be estimated unambiguously, and any estimates would involve a disproportionate cost to produce.
§ Ms. Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what expenditure has been incurred in each of the last three years for which information is available on (a) publicity for social security benefits in (i) the national press, (ii) provincial and local press, (iii) television, (iv) radio, (v) elsewhere and (b) printing and distributing social security information leaflets and posters for use in his Department's local Offices, post offices, and elsewhere.
§ Mr. John PattenI refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Sir G. Finsberg) to the hon. Member for East Kilbride (Dr. Miller) on 12 May 1983, at columns487–92. These replies included expenditure information for the subjects and media concerned for the years 1980–81 to 1982–83 inclusive, the last three for which full information is available.