§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from directors of institutions for the elderly and mentally disturbed concerning his recent decision to impose a freeze on all board and lodgings payments for residents.
§ Mr. WhitneyI assume the hon. Member has in mind the proposals on supplementary benefit board and Lodging payments which we referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee for consultation in November last year. A list of all those who made representations to the committee is included in its report which was published on 21 March (Cmnd. 9466).
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to allow a period of at least one month between publishing new board and lodging payment regulations and their implementation.
§ Mr. WhitneyI refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's statement to the House on 21 March, at column 1008.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many (a) single people aged 16 or 17 years, (b) single people aged between 18 and 25 years, (c) single people aged between 26 years and retirement age, (d) single people aged over retirement age, (e) couples without dependent children, (f) single parents with one dependent child, (g) single parents with two dependent children, (h) single parents with three or more dependent children, (i) couples with one dependent child, (j) couples with two dependent children, and (k) couples with three or more dependent children in receipt of supplementary benefit were assessed as boarders living in (i) private rented accommodation, (ii) bed and breakfast accommodation and hotels, (iii) hostels and (iv) common lodging houses in (a) December 1982 and (b) December 1983; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, and for each social security region;
(2) what were the average weekly supplementary benefit payments, exlusive of personal allowances, paid to (a) single people, (b) couples without dependent children, (c) single parents with one dependent child, (d) single parents with two dependent children, (e) single parents with three or more dependent children, (f) couples with one dependent child, (g) couples with two dependent children and (h) couples with three or more dependent children who were assessed as boarders living in (i) private rented accommodation, (ii) bed and breakfast accommodation and hotels, (iii) hostels and (iv) common lodging houses in (a) December 1982 and (b) December 1983; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, and for each social security region.
§ Mr. WhitneyI shall let the hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Boyesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the total supplementary benefit payments, exclusive of personal allowances, paid to (a) single people aged 16 or 17 years, (b) single people aged between 18 and 25 years, (c) single people aged between 26 years and retirement age, (d) single people aged over retirement age, (e) couples without dependent children, (f) single parents with one dependent child, (g) single parents with two dependent children, (h) single parents with three or more dependent children, (i) couples with one 87W dependent child, (j) couples with two dependent children and (k) couples with three or more dependent children assessed as boarders living in (i) private rented accommodation, (ii) bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation, (iii) hostels and (iv) common lodging houses during (a) the calendar years 1982, 1983 and 1984 and (b) the financial years 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84; and if he will give this information for Great Britain as a whole, and for each social security region.
§ Mr. WhitneyI regret that the information requested is not available.