§ Mr. Geraint Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will produce tables to show how many people in Wales in 1983 were (a) below, (b) at and (c) up to 140 per cent. of the supplementary benefit level on the latest basis and on a basis comparable with 1979 and 1981; what percentage of the total population they represent in each case; what his estimate is of the number of children living in such households in each case; and what percentage of total children they represent in each case;
(2) how many children in Wales were living in families below supplementary benefit level, on supplementary benefit, and with incomes up to 140 per cent. of supplementary benefit level, classified by employment status; whether they were in one or two-parent families in 1983 on the latest basis and on a basis comparable with 1981 and 1979; and what proportion these children made up of the total number of children.
§ Mr. MajorI regret that the information requested cannot be provided. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) on 6 November at column584.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services taking supplementary benefit for a married couple in 1956 as the base= 100, what has been the real increase in supplementary benefit each year since 1956; on the same basis what has been the real increase in national average earnings each year since 1956; and what are the equiNalent figures, taking the 1979 supplementary benefit level as the base = 100.
§ Mr. MajorThe information is as follows: 419W
Supplementary Benefit ordinary scale rate for married couple1 Earnings2 Uprating Dates January 1956 = 100 (a) November 1979 = 100 (b) January 1956 = 100 (a) November 1979 = 100 (b) November 1978 169.3 — 167.1 — November 1979 170.5 100.0 168.7 100.0 November 1980 175.2 102.7 167.5 99.3 November 1981 172.8 101.4 163.4 96.8 November 1982 179.2 105.1 164.3 97.4 November 1983 178.5 104.7 167.3 99.1 November 1984 180.0 105.6 174.4 103.5 November 1985 180.3 105.7 175.0 103.7 July 1986 179.8 105.4 3180.0 3106.8 1 Based on the movement in the Retail Prices Index (less housing) between (a) January 1956 to July 1986 and (b) November 1979 to July 1986. 2 Index based on estimates of average gross weekly male manual earnings expressed in real terms using the movement in the Retail Prices Index (all items) between (a) January 1956 to July 1986 and (b) November 1979 to July 1986. 3 Provisional.
§ Dr. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the ratio of supplementary benefit claimants to staff in, (a) each local office of his Department in London, (b) the average in each social security region and (c) the national average for 1 August 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986.