HC Deb 07 February 1991 vol 185 cc249-50W
Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of pensioners receive income support.

Miss Widdecombe

In May 1989, the latest date for which figures are available, 15 per cent. of pensioners received income support. In the 10 years from 1979 to 1989 the proportion of people receiving retirement pension who need to claim income support has fallen from nearly one in five to less than one in seven.

Sources: Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1989 for Income Support recipients. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys for population figures.

Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to publish plans to amend the income support regulations regarding the award of the severe disability premium to persons in receipt of attendance allowance; and whether they will be retrospective.

Miss Widdecombe

The regulations concerned are the subject of an appeal to the Court of Appeal. When judgment is received we will consider what action, if any, to take.

Mr. Jack

The integration of national insurance contributions and income tax would weaken the contributory principle, which has formed the basis of the national insurance scheme since 1948 and holds that an individual should establish entitlement to contributory social security benefits through the payment of national insurance contributions. The subject was discussed in the 1986 Green Paper "The Reform of Personal Taxation", to which the Department contributed. The conclusion reached was that the disadvantages of such a move would outweigh the benefits.

Mr. Allen

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list in table form the percentage of spending on social security benefits covered by(a) national insurance contributions by employees, (b) national insurance contributions by employers, (c) (a) and (b) together and (d) other Exchequer revenues for the years 1989, 1980, 1970 and 1961.

Mr. Jack

Information is not available in precisely the form requested. Information that is available is in the table.