§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received regarding the financial impact suffered by claimants whose annual uprating has been nullified by loss of transitional protection.
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§ Mr. Peter LloydVarious representations have been received on this subject.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the numbers of claimants in each benefit category expected to receive no cash increase after the payment of their annual benefit uprating in the current year.
§ Mr. Peter LloydWe estimated that some 3,840,000 income support claimants will receive an increase at this year's uprating. The estimated number of claimants receiving no increase, by client group, is as follows:
Number Pensioners 80 + 40,000 Pensioners 60–79 180,000 All pensioners 220,000 Sick or disabled 20,000 Lone parents 40,000 Couples with children 10,000 Others 300,000 Total 1590,000 1 Figures do not sum due to rounding.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what savings will accrue to public funds by clawing back benefit uprating by withdrawal of transitional protection.
§ Mr. Peter LloydPrecise information is not available. Had income support transitional additions not been reduced by increases at uprating, the estimated additional cost in the year 1989–90 would have been around £100 million.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department has undertaken to investigate the effect of the loss of transitional protection on claimants; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydWe are monitoring all aspects of the reformed social security system. Information about transitional protection will be available from our usual stastistical returns.