HC Deb 25 July 1986 vol 102 cc748-9W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish in the Official Report extra information expanding tables 10A-16B of the technical annex to Cmnd. 9691 showing separately for sick and disabled, lone parents, couples with children in full-time work and not in full-time work, others in full-time work and not in full-time work, and non-pensioners without children who are couples, the numbers losing, gaining and remaining the same, indicating the amount of the change where appropriate who are (a) under 25 years and (b) aged 25 years or more;

(2) what is his estimate of the average amounts paid in (a) water rates, (b) sewerage charges and (c) domestic rates in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland in 1985–86 by those receiving supplementary benefit which were used in the calculations in the technical annex to Cmnd. 9691.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 5 March 1986, c 157–58]: I regret that it has proved disproportionately costly to provide the breakdown for which the hon. Member asked, but I will write to him with such additional information as we can provide without such cost.

I regret also the delay in providing the additional information sought by the hon. Member about the basis of certain calculations in the technical annex, which is the result of the two questions having been linked together in error.

The income support model used for the technical annex to Cmnd. 9691 is based on data for Great Britain and separate figures are not available for England, Wales arid Scotland. Nor were separate amounts imputed for water rates and sewerage charges.

Where water rates and sewerage charges were included in the supplementary benefit assessment recorded in the "Annual Statistical Enquiry", claimants' actual entitlement was used. Where such charges were not included, the average value imputed in the model was £1.40 a week.

For domestic rates, estimates were derived from available information on claimants' tenure status, family type and age. The average amount for all claimants was £4.80 a week.

Both figures are at November 1985 prices.

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