§ 64. Mr. David DavisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many more families with children will be eligible for targeted financial support following implementation of the Social Security Act 1986.
§ Mr. ScottWhen, in April, income support supersedes supplementary benefit the broad number of recipients caring for dependent children is likely to be unaltered. Some new entitlements are, however, expected because there will be a more generous capital rule allowing those with savings of up to £6,000 to claim. Priority will be given to families with children through a system of special automatic weekly premiums.
Help will also be targeted more effectively on need among working families. Thus, whilst 300,000 families may lose entitlement to housing benefit, 270,000 more families are expected to receive the new and more generous family credit when it replaces family income supplement. In total, 470,000 families are expected to receive family credit.
Overall, and in addition to the transitional arrangements providing cash protection for those families who
168W
Country Percentage United Kingdom 9.6 Italy 9.5 Netherlands 8.6 West Germany 8.6 Luxembourg 7.8 Ireland 6.1 Average 9.3 Source: Eurostat Statistical Bulletin, Social protection Statistics, March 1985.
Note: Figures include state and occupational pensions and cash benefits for the elderly, expenditure on residential and nursing homes, local authority services for the elderly and other expenditure on the elderly, excluding health care and increases in pensions for dependants.