Supplementary Benefit (Hansard, 8 April 1986)

§ Ms. Harman
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate how many recipients of supplementary benefit in the United Kingdom in 1984 and 1985 had dependent children; and what number of children this represented.

§ Mr. Major
The following estimated information is available for 1984; similar information for 1985 is not yet available.

(a) Estimated number of supplementary benefit recipients in the United Kingdom with dependent children—1 million.

(b) Estimated number of dependent children—2 million.

§ Mr. Foulkes
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will state, for each of the following categories of supplementary benefit recipients, the numbers receiving laundry additions, the average amount received by each person and the total amount paid (a) pensioners aged 60 to 79 years of age, (b) pensioners aged 80 years and over, (c) disabled pensioners, namely, those receiving benefits related to disability or continuing incapacity, aged 60 to 79 years and (d) all other non-pensioner recipients;
(2) if he will state, for each of the following categories of supplementary benefit recipients, the numbers receiving diet additions, the average amount received by each person and the total amount paid (a) pensioners aged 60 to 79 years, (b) pensioners aged over 80 years, (c) disabled pensioners, namely, those receiving benefits related to disability or continuing incapacity, aged 60 to 79 years and (d) all other non-pensioner recipients;
(3) if he will state, for each of the following categories of supplementary benefit recipients, the numbers receiving heating additions, the average amount received by each person and the total amount paid (a) to pensioners aged 60 to 79 years, (b) pensioners aged 80 years and over, (c) disabled pensioners, namely, those receiving benefits related to disability or continuing incapacity, aged 60 to 79 years and (d) all other non-pensioner recipients.

§ Mr. Major
[pursuant to his reply, 6 February 1986, c. 213]: The information at December 1983, the latest date for which information is available, is as follows:
61W

(1) Age 60–79* (2) Age 80 and over (3) Disabled aged 60–79 (4) Others

Average weekly amount (£)† 2.44 2.35 2.76 2.73

Total weekly amount paid (£000)† 545 182 47 394

Heating additions

Number (000) 1,057 390 46 1,140

Average weekly amount (£) 2.92 3.48 4.23 3.12

Total weekly amount paid (£000) 3,085 1,358 196 3,563

* Includes disabled claimants shown in column 3.

† The amount does not take account of the effect of the available scale margin in relevant cases so that that average amount of benefit actually received and the total amount paid would be somewhat lower than shown.

‡ A claimant with dependants may receive more than one addition for diet: the number of additions made will be greater than the number of claimants shown as receiving an addition, and the average amount shown is greater than the average amount of each addition.

	(1) Age 60–79*	(2) Age 80 and over	(3) Disabled aged 60–79	(4) Others
Average weekly amount (£)†	2.44	2.35	2.76	2.73
Total weekly amount paid (£000)†	545	182	47	394
Heating additions
Number (000)	1,057	390	46	1,140
Average weekly amount (£)	2.92	3.48	4.23	3.12
Total weekly amount paid (£000)	3,085	1,358	196	3,563
* Includes disabled claimants shown in column 3.
† The amount does not take account of the effect of the available scale margin in relevant cases so that that average amount of benefit actually received and the total amount paid would be somewhat lower than shown.
‡ A claimant with dependants may receive more than one addition for diet: the number of additions made will be greater than the number of claimants shown as receiving an addition, and the average amount shown is greater than the average amount of each addition.