To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent measures his Department has taken to maintain the real level of benefits.

From April this year we have maintained the real values of all social security benefits by fully uprating them in line with the movement in prices. Because of our success in keeping inflation down this increase, based on last September's RPI, was over twice as much as it would have been using the current inflation rate of 1·3 per cent.In addition, the continuing payment of the element previously allowed for payment of the community charge as well as 100 per cent. council tax benefit, provides extra help worth up to £1·64 a week for a single person and £2·90 for a couple. Overall this help is worth around £750 million a year.