§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the effect on revenues in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 of the freeze in social fund (i) maternity payments, (ii) cold weather payments and (iii) capital; how many claimants (1) of each benefit and (2) in total he estimates will be affected by the freeze; and if he will make a statement. [8512]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information is not available in the format requested.
If social fund maternity payments had been uprated in line with Rossi since 1990, when they were last increased, the value of estimated additional expenditure—over current forecasts—would be £7 million in 1996–97 and £8 million in 1997–98. Approximately 230,000 claimants would be affected.
Notes:
- 1. The information in respect of Cold Weather Payments is not available as expenditure depends on weather conditions over the next two years.
- 2. The information requested for capital is also unavailable.
§ Mr. SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the effect on revenues in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98 of the freeze in disregards for war pensions, student loans and covenants, expenses from sub-tenants and income from boarders under disability working allowance, family credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit, invalid care allowance, unemployment benefit (daily rate) and income support claims; how many claimants (i) of each benefit and (ii) in total will be affected by the freeze; and if he will make a statement. [8513]
570W
§ Mr. EvansNone. The income disregards are kept under review, and increased only when it is prudent to do so. None of the incomes listed is taken into account in the calculation of either invalid care allowance or unemployment benefit.