§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many persons were in receipt of housing benefit in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth in each year from 1979 to 1984;
(2) how many persons received rate rebates in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth in each year from 1979 to 1984.
§ Mr. WhitneyThis information is not available in the precise form requested. It is estimated that the numbers of households receiving rent rebates, rent allowances and rate rebates in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, including Cumbernauld new town, were as follows:
267W
Rent rebate Rent allowance Rate rebate 1979–80 3,030 3 4,080 1980–81 3,370 10 5,220
Rent rebate Rent allowance Rate rebate 1981–82 3,970 16 5,540 *1982–83 6,900 18 8,600 1983–84 8,380 72 8,500 * From November 1982 for some and from April 1983 for all cases, assistance with rent and rates formerly met through supplementary benefit was transferred to housing benefit.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons received supplementary benefit in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth in each year from 1979 to 1984.
§ Mr. WhitneyI refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 27 March at column255.
§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons received family income supplement in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth in each year from 1979 to 1984.
§ Mr. WhitneyI regret that this information is not available. Family income supplement claims are dealt with by one centre at Blackpool and no information is maintained about claims from particular local areas.
§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has taken into account, in deciding the future of single payments under the supplementary benefits scheme, representations made by organisations providing help to low-income people in respect of energy-saving measures such as draught-proofing and insulation.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe have received a large number of representations on a wide variety of subjects, including supplementary benefit single payments for draught-proofing in the course of our review of social security. We are currently considering our conclusions of the review, taking account of those representations and also of the review's main aims — to ensure that the very large resources devoted to social security are used to the best effect and to see that those in most need of financial help receive it.