§ Ms. Clare Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the costs of supplementary benefit, housing benefit and unemployment benefit to 16 and 17-year-olds.
§ Mr. NewtonApproximate, estimated expenditure for 16 and 17-year-olds in 1983–84 was as follows:
£ million Supplementary benefit* 200 Housing benefit 10 Unemployment benefit 17 *Based on provisional figures.
§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount of benefit claimed by, and in respect of, unemployed 16 and 17-year-olds; and how that amount is distributed between the various classes of claim.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 9 January, c. 506]: Estimated total benefit expenditure on unemployed 16 and 17-year-olds in 1983–84 was £225 million (rounded). This breaks down approximately as follows:
£ million Supplementary benefit* 185 Unemployment benefit 17 Housing benefit 10 Child benefit 15 *Based on provisional figures.