asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the estimated cost of increasing (1) the old age pension by 2/6 a week, (2) unemployment assistance for (i) adults by 2/6 per week, (ii) juveniles by 1/- per week and (iii) juvenile dependants by 1/- per week, (3) unemployment benefit for (i) adults by 2/6 per week, and (ii) juvenile dependants by 1/- per week, (4) disablement benefit for (i) adults by 2/6 per week and (ii) juvenile dependants by 1/- per week, (5) widows' non-contributory pensions by 2/6 per week, (6) allowances for children by 1/- per week, (7) widows' contributory pensions by 2/6 per week, (8) allowances for children by 1/- per week, and (9) allowances for children under the Children's Allowances Acts by 1/- per week each.
Written Answers. - Cost of Increase in Social Welfare Allowances.
The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:
|
The estimated annual cost of increasing:— |
£ |
|
|
(1) |
Old Age and Blind Pensions by 2/6 per week |
1,046,000 |
|
(2) |
(i) Unemployment Assistance by 2/6 a week for adults (including adult dependants) |
247,000 |
|
(ii) there are no juvenile rates of unemployment assistance. |
||
|
(iii) Unemployment Assistance by 1/- a week in respect of each qualified child |
43,000 |
|
|
(3) |
(i) Unemployment Benefit by 2/6 a week for adults (including adult dependants) |
283,000 |
|
(ii) Unemployment Benefit by 1/- a week in respect of each qualified child |
48,000 |
|
|
(4) |
(i) Disability Benefit by 2/6 a week for adults (including adult dependants) |
355,000 |
|
(ii) Disability Benefit by 1/- a week in respect of each qualified child |
46,000 |
|
|
(5) |
Widows' (Non-contributory) Pensions by 2/6 a week |
165,000 |
|
(6) |
That portion of a Widow's (Non-contributory) Pension payable in respect of each qualified child by 1/- a week |
16,000 |
|
(7) |
Widows' (Contributory) Pension by 2/6 a week |
146,000 |
|
(8) |
That portion of a Widow's (Contributory) Pension payable in respect of each qualified child by 1/- a week |
24,000 |
|
(9) |
Children's allowances by 1/- a week in respect of each qualified child excluding the first child |
1,563,000 |
|
The total estimated annual cost of items (1) to (9) is |
3,982,000 |
68.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state the estimated cost of providing unemployment assistance on the basis of (i) 50/- per week for each recipient, (ii) an addition of 30/- per week for wife or adult dependant, where appropriate, (iii) 15/- per week for first and only child, and (iv) 7/- per week for second child.
The information required by the Deputy is as follows:
ESTIMATED annual cost of providing Unemployment Assistance on the basis of:
|
£ |
||
|
(i) |
50/- per week for each recipient |
3,250,000 |
|
(ii) |
30/- per week for wife or adult dependant |
1,020,000 |
|
(iii) |
15/- per week for first child |
375,000 |
|
(iv) |
7/- per week for second child |
126,000 |
|
TOTAL |
£4,771,000 |