§ Mr. WicksTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of providing free school meals for children living in families receiving family credit. [7186]
§ Mr. Roger EvansAbout £130 million a year.
§ Mr. WicksTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost of increasing the maintenance disregard for lone parents in receipt of family credit by (i) £20, (ii) £25, (iii) £30 and how many lone parents would receive maintenance in each case. [7181]
§ Mr. EvansThe information is set out in the table.
Estimated cost of increasing the maintenance disregard in family credit for lone parents 1996–97 Maintenance disregard increased to£ Additional net benefit costs £ million 20 5 25 10 30 15 35 20 Estimates are rounded to the nearest £5 million.
It is estimated that around 90,000 lone parents receive maintenance in each case.
§ Mr. WicksTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the annual cost of reducing the family credit taper for those in work to (i) 65 per cent., (ii) 60 per cent., (iii) 55 per cent. and1272W iv) 50 per cent.; and how many people would be entitled to family credit in each of these cases. [7198]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is set out in the table.
Estimated cost of reducing the family credit taper: 1996–97 Taper Family credit £ million Housing benefit £ million Council tax benefit £ million Net cost £ million Family credit estimated caseload 70 per cent. — — — — 680,000 65 per cent. 120 –15 1— 105 700,000 60 per cent. 260 –25 –5 230 755,000 55 per cent. 435 –40 –5 390 820,000 50 per cent. 645 –50 –10 585 900,000 Estimates based on the Family Expenditure Surveys of 1991, 1992 and 1993, uprated to 1996–97 prices and benefit levels.
Estimates of costs are rounded to the nearest £5 million. Estimates of caseloads are rounded to the nearest 5,000.
Figures may not sum exactly due to rounding.
1Indicates less than £2.5 million.