§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the cost would be if the proposals on the maintenance of children were implemented but parents solely dependent on benefit were allowed to keep(a) £5, (b) £10 or (c) £15 before income support was deducted.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe estimated costs of a maintenance disregard in income support are in the table.
Amount of disregard (£) Total cost (£ million) 5 70 10 130 15 180
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he intends to introduce to improve the levels of income support payable to 16 and 17-year-olds.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardBenefit rates will be uprated from next April in the normal way. We are continuing to monitor the effects of the social security reforms and to make improvements where appropriate; for example, since July 1989 16 and 17-year-olds who have no option but to live independently have been entitled to the higher level of benefit normally paid to 18 to 24-year-olds.
Research into the operation of the income support rules for 16 and 17-year-olds has been commissioned. The results are expected around Easter 1991.