Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of people living in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) England and (e) each of the standard English regions is dependant upon supplementary benefit; and what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. PortilloThe available information is as follows:
Proportion of Total Population Dependent on Supplementary Benefit (per cent.). Year United Kingdom England Scotland Wales 1979 8.14 7.82 8.66 9.51 1980 9.06 8.75 9.27 10.30 1981 11.37 10.99 11.74 13.14 1982 13.12 12.69 13.64 15.18 1983 13.45 12.99 13.84 15.58 1984 14.30 13.81 15.00 16.84 1986 15.28 14.73 16.24 17.65 Information on the numbers of people dependent on supplementary benefit is not available by standard English region.
§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to raise the £3,000 capital threshold used to determine supplementary and other benefits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloThe capital cut-off will be doubled to £6,000 when income support replaces supplementary benefit in April. An income of £1 for each band of £250 capital held between £3,000 and £6,000 will be assumed. The same rule will apply in family credit, which will replace family income supplement, and housing benefit.
Dr. ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are claiming supplernentary benefit in(a) the United Kingdom, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, (d) England and (e) each of the standard English regions; what are the corresponding figures for each year since 1979; and what was the actual and percentage increase between the latest figures and the corresponding figures for 1979.
§ Mr. PortilloThe available information is as follows:
579W
Numbers of people claiming supplementary benefit (000's) United Kingdom England Scotland Wales 1979 2,970 2,400 286 172 1980 3,247 2,627 304 186 1981 3,873 3,131 371 221 1982 4,431 3,590 423 253 1983 4.524 3,649 440 260
United Kingdom England Scotland Wales 1984 4,790 3,866 468 275 1986 5,122 4,141 506 291 Actual increase (since 1979) 2,152 1,741 220 119 Per cent, increase 72.46 72.54 76.92 69.19 Information on the numbers of people dependent on supplementary benefit is not available by standard English region.