§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the first-year and full-year cost of extending the long-term rate of supplementary benefit to the long-term unemployed in 1985–86 and 1986–87 (a) net of the cost of indexation and (b) net of the cost of indexation and savings in other benefits as a direct result of this measure.
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§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 26 February 1986, c. 611.]: The information requested is as follows:
Period Cost (£ million)* November 1985—April 1986 190 April 1986—April 1987 530 * To nearest £10 million There should be no savings in other benefits. Our proposals in the Social Security Bill currently before Parliament would replace the present supplementary benefit scheme structure, including the distinction between ordinary and long-term rates, by income support based on personal allowances and premiums.