HC Deb 19 February 1990 vol 167 c555W
Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many income support claimants are in receipt of a transitional addition at present; and how many were in receipt before the April 1989 uprating.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

It is estimated that next month about 485,000 income support claimants will be in receipt of normal statutory transitional protection. The corresponding number immediately before the April 1989 uprating was estimated at 1.2 million.

Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has on the change in benefit income to claimants following the introduction of the transitional protection arrangements, currently in practice.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

As a result of the transitional protection arrangements noone who has been continuously on benefit since April 1989 in unchanged circumstances will have suffered a reduction in benefit income in cash terms. We estimate that 95 per cent. of claimants on income support either saw an increase in that benefit income in October, as a result of the restructuring of premiums for older and disabled pensioners, or will see such an increase in April 1990 as a result of the general uprating.

Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to amend current transitional protection regulations.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

We amended the regulations as recently as December 1989. We have no plans for further amendment.