§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the average work expenses of those on supplementary benefit with part-time earnings; and what are the average work expenses of lone parents with part-time earnings on supplementary benefit.
Mr. John asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average amount allowed for work expenses to supplementary benefit claimants with part-time earnings.
Mr. Whitney: The only information on average work expenses of persons receiving supplementary benefit comes from a study∗ of the tapered earnings disregard applicable to lone parents which was commissioned by the Department and carried out by the social policy research unit of the University of York in 1982. Of those lone parents who had work expenses the average weekly costs of travel to work and child care were £1.18 and £0.94 respectively.
∗ Lone Mothers Paid Work and Social Security; Occasional Papers on Social Administration 77.