To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the percentage fall over the period since the end of April 1987 in the real value of the income of a person then receiving supplementary benefit and now receiving income support with a transitional addition of £1 per week, assuming no disregarded income and no changes in the transitional addition except those due to the annual benefit upratings.
The level of income support in payment depends upon the individual's circumstances, changes in which may affect benefit entitlement though not the transitional addition. Any hypothetical calculation of the kind requested could not reflect the varying positions of the very small number of people who still have transitional protection. Such people remain better off than those in similar circumstances who have claimed income support since April 1988.