Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments – 18 April 1986

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Single Payments on 18th April 1986.

Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest estimate of the cost of payments made under the single payments regulations in 1985-86, and his estimate of the cost for 1986-87, taking into account the changes to be introduced to his new regulations.

Mr. Major Figures for the full financial year 1985-86 are not yet available but expenditure for the period from 10 April 1985 to 11 March 1986 was £303 million.

As announced on 24 February 1986 by my hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Shepherd) at columns 476-78, our proposals for amending the rules for single payments, which are currently being considered by the Social Security Advisory Committee, are intended to bring expenditure back to around the 1984 level.

Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the figure for the average payment made under the single payments regulations for claimants taking up a new tenancy; and what he estimates will be average payment in 1987.

Mr. Major The annual statistical inquiry contains information about the average amount of single payments for specific items but does not separately identify payments for furniture to those taking up tenancies for the first time. I regret therefore the information requested is not available.