Benefits (Hansard, 11 February 1985)

§ Mr. Deakins
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion supplementary benefit for a childless married couple is of supplementary benefit for a single person; what proportion supplementary benefit plus child benefit for a married couple with two children under the age of 11 years is of supplementary benefit for a single person; and how these proportions have changed since 1966.

§ Mr. Whitney
The information is as follows:

Supplementary benefit plus, where there are children, child benefit^* as a proportion of the ordinary scale rate for a single householder.

November 1966 (per cent.) November 1984 (per cent.)

Couple 164 162

Couple with two children†

i. both aged under 5 222 231

ii. Both aged 5–10 233 231

iii. One age under 5 and one aged 5–10 228 231

Notes:

^* Child benefit is taken fully into account as income when calculating a claimant's entitlement to supplementary benefit.

† In 1966 there were two separate scale rates for children under 5 and children aged 5 to 10; from 1980 there was one rate for children under 11.

72W

§ Mr. Rooker
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest information for the west midlands and for Great Britain as a whole on the number of claims for national insurance benefits, broken down into each available benefit, in which it is discovered that an employer has failed to deduct national insurance contributions from an employee's wages, showing (a) the proportion and number of these cases in which the claim was refused and (b) the proportion and number in which the claim was allowed only at a reduced rate;
(2) if he will give the latest information for the west midlands and for Great Britain as a whole on the number of claimants for national insurance benefits, in which it is discovered that an employer has deducted national insurance contributions from an employee's wages but failed to pass them on, showing (a) the proportion and number of these cases in which the claim was refused and (b) the proportion and number in which the claim was allowed only at a reduced rate;
(3) if he will give the latest available figures for the west midlands and for Great Britain as a whole, for the number of cases referred to him under regulation 39 of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 1979, under which he may exercise his discretion and allow a national insurance benefit to be paid where a claimant's contribution record is deficient for these reasons; and if he will give corresponding figures for the number of national insurance benefit payments so allowed giving a breakdown by benefit, amounts involved and by the value of contribution deficiencies.

§ Mr. Whitney
The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Supplementary benefit plus, where there are children, child benefit^* as a proportion of the ordinary scale rate for a single householder.
	November 1966 (per cent.)	November 1984 (per cent.)
Couple	164	162
Couple with two children†
i. both aged under 5	222	231
ii. Both aged 5–10	233	231
iii. One age under 5 and one aged 5–10	228	231
Notes:
^* Child benefit is taken fully into account as income when calculating a claimant's entitlement to supplementary benefit.
† In 1966 there were two separate scale rates for children under 5 and children aged 5 to 10; from 1980 there was one rate for children under 11.