§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) further to his answers of 5 February, Official Report, column 190, and 19 February, Official Report, column 205, if he will provide a breakdown of the figure for the additional expenditure consequent on fixing the income support personal allowance for single people aged 18 to 24 years at £30.60 per week;
(2) pursuant to his answer of 19 February, Official Report, column 205, about income support, if he will publish details of how the total figure of £200 million to £250 million was arrived at.
§ Mr. NewtonThe main element is an estimated increase of some £200 million in income support expenditure resulting from applying the higher benefit rate proposed by the hon. Member to the 573,000 single householders and non-householders aged 18 to 24 currently on benefit, together with an increase of some £3 million through paying the higher benefit rate to dependants aged 18 and over. In addition, it is estimated that housing benefit and family credit expenditure would increase by over £10 million and £2 million respectively (the latter in respect of dependants in family credit families).