§ 11. Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many working people presently claim supplementary benefit; and what is the comparable figure for January 1980.
§ Mr. LyellSupplementary benefit is not payable to those in full-time work. The relevant benefit in the case of families with children is family income supplement. The number of families receiving family income supplement has increased from 82,000 in January 1980 to 210,000 in September 1986.
§ 48. Mr. Harrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends to raise the £3,000 capital limit for supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. MajorNot in the short term. However, we have announced proposals for more generous treatment of capital in the income support scheme which is to replace supplementary benefit from April 1988. We propose that the capital limit will be doubled to £6,000, but a weekly income of £1 will be assumed for bands of capital of £250 between £3,000 and £6,000.