HC Deb 05 February 1987 vol 109 c808W
Mr. Barry Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients of supplementary benefit in (a) Clwyd and (b) Wales were one-parent families in each of the years 1980 to 1985.

Mr. Lyell

Information on the number of lone-parent recipients in Clwyd is not available. The information in respect of Wales as a whole is as follows:

Year Number of lone-parent recipients (thousands)
1980 19
1981 22
1982 24
1983 27
1984 28

Note: Latest available date.

Source: Annual statistical inquiries.

Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to reinstate entitlement to certificated housing benefit and other passported benefits retrospectively to all past and present trainees under the Dundee pilot scheme who were in training prior to 26 January; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major

It is not possible in law to backdate entitlement to certificated housing benefit for a period when supplementary benefit was not payable in the way suggested. However, I refer the hon. Member to my replies to him on 20 November 1986 at columns333–335 describing the safeguards made for ensuring that trainees at Dundee and elsewhere would be no worse off as a result of participating in the job training scheme.

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