HC Deb 06 May 1986 vol 97 cc71-2W
Mr. McTaggart

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the number and percentage of households and persons in Scotland below, at, or up to 40 per cent. above supplementary benefit level in 1979, 1981 and 1983.

Mr. Major

I shall let the hon. Member have the information as soon as possible after the low income families tables for 1983 are placed in the Library.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the December 1984 figures for (a) the numbers in receipt of supplementary benefit and (b) the numbers dependent on supplementary benefit, and distinguishing in each case between retirement pensioners, the unemployed, the sick and disabled, one parent families, widows and others.

Mr. Major

Provisional figures for the number in receipt of supplementary benefit are given in the table. It is regretted that information about the number of dependants is not yet available.

Thousands
Number
Pensioners 1,666
Unemployed 1,786
Sick and disabled 279

Number
One parent families* 491
Widows 15
Others 359
Total 4,596
* Not included in other groups.

Source: Quarterly Statistical Enquiry December 1984.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in each of the years since 1979 for which figures are available (1) how many representations he has received asking him to use the discretion conferred upon him under section 20 of the Supplementary Benefits Act 1976 not to recover recoverable overpayments of supplementary benefit; (2) in how many instances he used this discretion not to recover such overpayments; how many of the representations came in the first instance from: (a) the claimant or his or her representative or advocate, including an honourable Member, and (b) from his Department; in how many of the instances the initial representation was made to him by: (a) the claimant, (b) the claimant's representative or advocate and (c) his Department; what was the average amount, per claimant, involved in (1) above; and what was the average amount, per claimant involved in (2) above.

Mr. Major

The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.