HC Deb 26 February 1990 vol 168 cc64-5W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) 15 January,Official Report, column 120, regarding his Department's expenditure, (1) if he will give his estimate of each year's increase in expenditure accounted for by (a) an increase in the number of claimants and (b) a real-terms increase in benefit levels;

(2) what has been the expenditure change in real terms between 1978–79 and 1989–90, for each of the beneficiary groups in table 14.9 at chapter 14 of the public expenditure White Paper, resulting from (a) an increase in the number of claimants and (b) increases in the real terms level of benefits; and, in relation to the elderly, what percentage in the real terms increase in benefit levels is attributable to the state earnings-related pensions scheme.

Mr. Scott

[holding answer 29 January 1990]: Increases in expenditure brought about by the introduction of new benefits and enhancements to existing benefits do not always fall neatly into the categories (a) and (b). Factors such as the growing number of married women claiming contributory benefits can increase claimant numbers but produce an apparent fall in real average payments, whereas the reality is that the household's real income from social security is higher than it would have been previously. For this reason it would be disproportionately costly to devote resources to an attempt to give most of the information requested.

Between 1978–79 and 1989–90, 2.6 out of the 24 per cent. real increase in benefit expenditure on the elderly, and 2.9 out of the 34 per cent. real increase in total spending on benefits, is attributable to the commencement and growth of spending on additional pensions with contributory benefits.

Mr. Clifford Forsythe

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the social security benefits that are available, categorised under(a) contributory benefits,(b) non-contributory benefits, (c) means-tested benefits, (d) discretionary benefits, (e) other benefits and (f) employer-funded benefits.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

[holding answer 19 February 1990]: The main social security benefits are shown as follows. Employer-funded benefits are not listed separately as they cover a wide range of contingencies including occupational pension schemes, redundancy payments, death benefits, maternity provision and private health schemes. Benefits in category (c) (income related) are also non-contributory.

  1. (a) Contributory
    • Sickness Benefit
    • Invalidity Benefit
    • Maternity Allowance
    • Retirement Pension
    • Unemployment Benefit
    • Widow's Payment
    • Widowed Mother's Allowance
    • Widow's Pension.
  2. (b) Non-contributory
    • Child Benefit
    • One Parent Benefit
    • Guardian's Allowance
    • Severe Disablement
    • Industrial Injuries
    • Disablement Benefit
    • Over 80 Pension
    • Reduced Earnings Allowance
    • Retirement Allowance
    • Industrial Death Benefit
    • War Widow's or Dependants' Pension
    • Attendance Allowance
    • Invalid Care Allowance
    • Mobility Allowance
    • Lump Sum for Vaccine Damage
    • War Disablement Pension
    • Workmen's Compensation Supplement
    • Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit
    • Social Fund (Funeral, Maternity and Cold Weather Payments).
  3. (c) Income-Related
    • Income Support
    • Family Credit
    • Housing Benefit
    • Rent/Rate Rebate
    • Community Charge Benefit
    • Help with National Health Service charges.
  4. (d) Discretionary
    • Social Fund (Community Care Grants, Budgeting and Crisis Loans).
  5. (e) Other
    • Statutory Sick Pay
    • Statutory Maternity Pay.