§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the savings if all the main national insurance benefits were reduced by £14 for a single person and £28 for married couples, without any offsetting increases in supplementary benefit or housing benefit.
(Thousands) 1970 1983 Recipients Dependents Total Recipients Dependents Total Retirement pensioners 1,701 388 2,089 1,556 267 1,823 Unemployed 240 377 617 1,826 1,627 3,453 Sick and disabled 323 229 552 241 109 350 National insurance widows with children* 20 36 143 3 5 31 National insurance widows without children* 87 36 143 23 5 31 Lone parents† 191 374 565 449 763 1,211 Others‡ 175 24 199 252 118 370 Total 2,738 1,429 4,166 4,349 2,888 7,238 Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry
* Children under 16
†Not included in other groups
‡Includes supplementary pensioners without retirement pension or widows pension.
§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table similar to table 6A in the technical annex to the social security White Paper, Cmnd. 9691 showing (a) the number of people in each client group who will be unaffected by his proposals, (b) the numbers gaining or losing less than £1, (c) the numbers gaining or losing between £1 and £5 and
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§ Mr. NewtonIf the main national insurance benefits were reduced by £14 for a single person and £28 for married couples the saving to the national insurance fund would be about £9 billion in a full year.
§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish tables, similar to those in his Department's tax/benefit model table, showing net weekly spending power for each of a single wage married couple with two children aged four and six years and three children aged three, eight and 11 years earning £60, £70, £80, £90, £100, £110, £120, £130, £140, £150, £160 and £170 (a) under the existing tax and benefit systems and (b) under the benefit system proposed in Cmnd. 9691, using the illustrative benefit figures in the technical annex;
(2) if he will publish figures, similar to those in his Department's tax/benefit model tables, comparing net weekly spending power for a lone mother with two children aged four and six years, under the existing tax and benefit systems and under the benefit system proposed in Cmnd. 9691, using the illustrative figures in the technical annex, and in each of the following circumstances (a) not working, after one year on benefit, (b) earning £20 a week from part-time work, (c) earning £40 a week from part-time working and (d) working full-time and earning £60, £70, £80, £90, £100, £110 and £120 per week.
§ Mr. NewtonI shall let my hon. Friend have replies as soon as possible.
§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out a table for the years 1970 and 1984 showing numbers of recipients arid dependents in receipt of supplementary benefit, and distinguishing between retirement pensioners, the unemployed, the sick and disabled, national insurance widows with and without dependent children, and lone parents.
§ Mr. MajorThe information is as follows, giving numbers for December 1983, the latest date for which information is available.
(d) the numbers gaining or losing between £5 and £10, distinguishing in each case between (i) child benefit, (ii) supplementary benefit or income support, (iii) family income supplementary or family credit, (iv) free school meals, (v) free welfare milk and (vi) housing benefit, assuming a minimum 20 per cent. rates contribution.
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§ Mr. NewtonI shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.