§ Mr. Squireasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost of meeting water rate payments for those in receipt of supplementary benefit at the latest date for which information is available.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe information is not available in the precise form requested. The best figures available are those contained in table 6.14 of the Annual Statistical Enquiry 1982, a copy of which is in the Library. These show that the cost of including amounts for water charges in claimants' supplementary benefit assessments was about £2.5 million. This table does not give the complete picture because it excludes certain recipients affected by the partial start of the housing benefits scheme and those whose allowance for water rates is paid through housing benefit, for whom the information is not available.