HC Deb 19 July 1990 vol 176 c698W
Mr. Paice

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much he estimates it would cost his Department to extend the full rate of income support to cover all adults, including 16 and 17-year-olds.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

[holding answer 5 June 1990]: The estimated cost for income-related benefits would be around £400 million, based on existing benefit rates and youth training allowances. The actual cost would also depend on the number of people on youth training at the time.

Source: Modelled using data drawn from the 1985–86–87 family expenditure surveys.