asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will raise the £2 disregard under the Supplementary Benefit Scheme and the £2 limit on therapeutic earnings with sickness benefit to a level which will restore their purchasing power to the original level.

These levels are kept continuously under review, but I have no statement to make about them at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current purchasing power of the £2 disregard under the Supplementary Benefit Scheme and the £2 limit on therapeutic earnings with sickness benefit in comparison with their value when the limits were set.

£1·50 and £1·16, respectively.