HC Deb 20 December 1995 vol 268 c1273W
Mr. Wicks

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of increasing the earning disregard for income support claimants by (i)£5, (ii)£10 and (iii) £15 a week. [7183]

Mr. Roger Evans

The information is set out in the table:

Increase in disregard £ Cost £ million
5 35
10 65
15 100

  1. 1. Modelled on the 1991, 1992 and 1993 Family Expenditure Surveys and the 1994 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry uprated to 1995–96 prices, benefits and earnings levels.
  2. 2. Costs include the increased costs of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit due to increased entitlement to these benefits.
  3. 3. It has been assumed that both the head and the spouse of a couple each gain by the increases in the earnings disregards.
  4. 4. It has been assumed that no behavioural changes take place.