Benefits (Hansard, 27 November 1984)

§ 41. Mr. Ron Davies
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the population of England and Wales is relying on state benefits at the latest available date.

§ Mr. Newton
Estimates derived from the family expenditure survey data indicate that in 1981 at least 24 per cent. of people in England and Wales were in families where social security benefits comprised at least 50 per cent. of total family income; the major factor being that retirement pensions form over half the income of some 80 per cent. of those over retirement age. These estimates are subject to sampling error and do not include people who are living in institutions. The proportions will be underestimated to some extent since the data on which they are based do not take account of the actual income of people who have been sick or unemployed for less than three months at the time of the survey interview; instead the individual's income reflects the normal income when in work.

§ 55. Mr. Loyden
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to protect the real value of social security and other benefits.
463W

§ Mr. Newton
Most benefits have been increased by more than the rise in prices since this Government came to office. In particular, between the uprating in 1978 and this year's, retirement pension has increased by seven percentage points more than the retail prices index. There is also full provision in the social security programme for an uprating in November 1985 based on the assumed rise in prices in the twelve months to the previous May.

§ Mr. Freud
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report for the following social security benefits, in each case (a) nationally and (b) in the East Anglian region (i) the take-up rate, (ii) the average weekly amount unclaimed and (iii)

Year^* Take-up rate (per cent.) Average weekly amount unclaimed
£.p
Total annual value of unclaimed benefit
£ million

Family income supplement 1981–82 about 50 8.30 57

1978–79 about 50 3.80 15

Supplemental benefit† 1981 71 10.50 760

1979 70 5.60 355

One-parent benefit‡ 1982–83 75 3.43 20

1981–82 70 3.11 25

1980–81 66 2.68 22

1979–80 60 2.18 17

Free school meals║ 1980 81 not known not known

Notes:

^* Estimates for family income supplement in 1981–82, supplementary benefit and free school meals relate to calendar years; for one-parent benefit to fiscal years; and the 1978–79 estimate for family income supplement was derived from Family Fmances Survey data collected between October 1978 and September 1979.

^† The estimates for 1979 and 1981 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of automatic heating additions in 1981.

^‡ Estimates relate to those who stand to gain from claiming the benefit.

^║ This Department of Education and Science estimate relates to take-up among children in families in England receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement. There are no comparable estimates for earlier years. No estimates of take-up in Scotland and Wales are available.

	Year^*	Take-up rate (per cent.)	Average weekly amount unclaimed £.p	Total annual value of unclaimed benefit £ million
Family income supplement	1981–82	about 50	8.30	57
	1978–79	about 50	3.80	15
Supplemental benefit†	1981	71	10.50	760
	1979	70	5.60	355
One-parent benefit‡	1982–83	75	3.43	20
	1981–82	70	3.11	25
	1980–81	66	2.68	22
	1979–80	60	2.18	17
Free school meals║	1980	81	not known	not known
Notes:
^* Estimates for family income supplement in 1981–82, supplementary benefit and free school meals relate to calendar years; for one-parent benefit to fiscal years; and the 1978–79 estimate for family income supplement was derived from Family Fmances Survey data collected between October 1978 and September 1979.
^† The estimates for 1979 and 1981 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of automatic heating additions in 1981.
^‡ Estimates relate to those who stand to gain from claiming the benefit.
^║ This Department of Education and Science estimate relates to take-up among children in families in England receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement. There are no comparable estimates for earlier years. No estimates of take-up in Scotland and Wales are available.