§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what research his Department is currently undertaking into the effects on different client groups of the current benefits system.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardResearch currently being undertaken or commissioned by the Department into the effects on different client groups of the current benefit systems is set out in the table. In addition to these projects, research into invalid care allowance, lone parents, maternity rights and personal pension optants has recently been completed.
Client group Title of research The unemployed 1. Effects of the "Actively Seeking Work" provisions 2. Survey of Incomes In and Out of work1 Young people The effect of severe hardship payments for 16 and 17 year olds Pensioners Survey of retirement and retirement plans All 1. Methods of payment of benefit 2. The operation of the Social Fund 1 This is a large project comprising a number of individual studies.