§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the cost of operating the Department of Social Security's liable relatives section in each year since 1985 and what proportion of that cost relates to income support claimants with dependent children.
§ Lord Mackay of ArdbrecknishInformation about the full cost of liable relatives work since 1985 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It would not, in any event, be possible to determine the proportion of that cost that applied to income support beneficiaries with dependent children.