asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost per annum of reducing the qualifying period for long-term addition to supplementary benefits from two years to one year and six months, respectively; and how many claimants would benefit in each case.

To reduce the qualifying period for the long-term addition to supplementary benefit from two years to

Of 57,910 appeals lodged against determinations made by the Supplementary Benefits Commission in 1974, 27,247 were ultimately heard by supplementary benefit appeal tribunals. Details are as follows:one year would cost approximately £12 million at current rates of benefit and would benefit about 110,000 claimants. To reduce the qualifying period to six months would cost approximately £19 million and benefit about 175,000 claimants.