asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in Walthamstow and in the London borough of Waltham Forest, respectively, have been in receipt of (a) supplementary benefit and (b) housing benefit in each year since 1980.
Walthamstow is covered by the Department's local office at Walthamstow. The London borough of Waltham Forest is covered by the Department's local offices at Walthamstow, Leytonstone, Woodgrange Park and Edmonton but their boundaries are not conterminous with those of the borough. The table shows the number of people receiving supplementary benefit from these offices on 10 February 1987 — the latest information available—and on comparable dates since 1980.
| Year | Walthamstow | London borough of WalthamForest |
| 1980 | 8,926 | 34,432 |
| 1981 | 9,944 | 38,976 |
| 1982 | 11,603 | 46,477 |
| 1983 | 12,956 | 51,385 |
| 1984 | 12,882 | 52,533 |
| 1985 | 13,255 | 54,570 |
| 1986 | 13,158 | 56,460 |
| 1987 | 13,719 | 58,374 |
Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.
The number of people who were in receipt of housing benefit or rebates or allowances under the Department of Environment schemes prior to 1982–83 in the London borough of Waltham Forest is as follows:
Number
| |
| 1979–80 | 12,900 |
| 1980–81 | 13,800 |
| 1981–82 | 16,800 |
11982–83 | 22,500 |
| 1983–84 | 27,600 |
| 1984–85 | 35,600 |
21985–86 | 30,000 |
21986–87 | 26,500 |
Separate figures for Walthamstow are not available.
Source: Department of Environment and Local Authority Subsidy returns.
1 The Housing Benefit Scheme, which replaced the Rent and Rate Rebate Scheme was partially introduced in November 1982 and fully implemented in April 1983.
2 The figures for 1985–86 and 1986–87 are subject to revision.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate how many claims for (a) death grant and (b) maternity grant were made at (i) Cowdenbeath, (ii) Dunfermline and (iii) Kirkcaldy social security offices during 1986 or the last full year for which figures are available.
The information requested is as follows:
| (a) Death grant | (b) Maternity grant | |
| Cowdenbeath | 529 | 556 |
| Dunfermline | 880 | 1,226 |
| Kirkcaldy | 1,560 | 459 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the reply of 16 March 1987, at column 413 about the income of a 15 year-old child, in what circumstances the amount would be less or more than the £15·60 given in his reply.
The figure of £15·60 represents the normal supplementary benefit requirements of a dependent child aged over 11 but under 16 where the person claiming benefit in respect of that child is either a householder or a member of someone else's household. Those requirements can be modified as follows:
| Circumstances | Amount of child's requirements |
| 1. Family resident in board and lodging accommodation. | An amound for the board and lodging charge plus any meals not included in the charge (subject to certain limits) plus £5·15 for personal expenses. |
| 2. Child in hospital over 12 weeks. | £7·90 |
| 3. Family receiving benefit under the urgent cases provisions during the first 14 days of a claim. | £10·40 |
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 16 March 1987, at column 413 about the income of a 15 year-old child, if the amount of £15·60 quoted in his reply includes child benefit.
Yes.