§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to Lady Hollis of Heigham's remarks on 3 June (HL Deb., col 632) indicating that it would cost £1.9 billion to raise income-related benefits by £5 a head, how many people would need to come off benefit to render such an increase cost neutral.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)£1.9 billion is the cost of the current benefit entitlement of around 500,000 claimants. The Government have no plans to raise income-related benefits by £5 a week.