HC Deb 02 February 1990 vol 166 cc379-80W
Sir Rhodes Boyson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide examples of the effects of community charge benefit on the levels of gross earnings in 1990–91 at which families with children are free of the poverty trap assuming two-parent families with one, two, three and four children, community charge per adult of £200, £300, £400, £500 and £600, and that family credit entitlement is taken up in full.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

I regret that the information requested is not available.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to raise the present upper limit on the amount of capital which may be held by community charge payers before they become ineligible for any rebate; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

We have no such plans. The upper capital limit of £8,000 strikes the right balance between helping those people who need assistance to pay their community charge and protecting the interests of taxpayers.