§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what change he expects there to be in the numbers of families eligible for free milk on the implementation of clause 11 of the Social Security Act 1988; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloAt the latest date for which information is available (February 1986) around 786,000 families were entitled to free welfare milk because they were receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement, or were claiming under the low-income scheme. Following the changes introduced earlier this month by regulations made under the Social Security Act 1988, families receiving income support (about 633,000 on the basis of the numbers previously receiving supplemenary benefit) will still be entitled to free welfare milk. In family credit, provision is made in cash instead, by including an additional amount of £2–55 in the child credit rates for each child. The low-income scheme has been abolished. On the basis of the estimates in "Impact of the Reformed Structure of Income Related Benefits" (October 1987) over 100,000 more children under five will receive the cash addition in family credit than were previously entitled to free welfare milk through receipt of family income supplement or under the low-income scheme.