§ Mr. Wattsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was paid in supplementary benefit to single people under the age of 18 years in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Lyell[pursuant to his reply, 10 February 1987, c. 196]: Based on the number of single claimants aged under 18 and the average weekly payment to them on a particular day in December each year, the annual equivalent expenditure was as follows:
Year Expenditure £ million 1982 188 1983 163 1984 191 These figures cannot be regarded as a complete or precise estimate of total expenditure on supplementary benefit to this group of claimants because—
- (a) They take no account of the seasonal variations in the numbers in this group which are likely to arise because of the patterns in school leaving; and
- (b) Only regular weekly payments are covered and not other payments such as single payments for exceptional needs.