HC Deb 06 June 1985 vol 80 cc237-8W
Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many supplementary pensioners with heating additions and other additional requirements he estimates will be worse off if the proposals of his Green Paper take full effect and after transitional arrangements are ended;

(2) what he estimates to be the average and highest loss of income for unemployed persons aged under 25 years if the proposals of his Green Paper are finally implemented and once transitional arrangements are ended;

(3) how many households will lose housing benefit under the proposals of his Green Paper; and if he will estimate how many pensioners will lose;

(4) how many households on housing benefit will receive less help with their rent and rates under the proposals of his Green Paper; and if he will estimate how many pensioners will receive less help;

(5) how many households now on family income supplement will not be entitled to family credit under the proposals of his Green Paper.

Mr. Newton

The Green Paper seeks comments on the proposed new structure of social security. Until that is settled it would be misleading to attempt to provide a detailed analysis of the impact of the changes. That must await decisions about the benefit rates to be adopted in April 1987.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he estimates will be the budget for the new social fund if his proposal in the Green Paper is finally implemented.

Mr. Newton

The size of the budget for the new social fund will be for consideration nearer the time.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what he estimates to be the savings in the first full year of the housing benefit scheme proposed in the Green Paper on reform of social security;

(2) how much he estimates will be saved by his proposal that benefit claimants pay 20 per cent. of their rates bill.

Mr. Newton

Until benefit rates for April 1987 have been settled it is not possible to give precise figures. But expenditure on housing benefit is expected to fall eventually by about £500 million.