§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to increase the earnings disregard and slacken the earnings taper for single parents in receipt of benefit.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardWe have already announced that the earnings disregard in housing benefit and community charge benefit for lone parents is to be increased in October of this year from £15 to £25 per week. We have no plans to alter the benefit tapers.