The back to school clothing and footwear scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards is designed to assist recipients of social welfare and health board payments with the cost of children's school uniforms and footwear. People on low incomes who are in receipt of family income supplement may also qualify for assistance.
For the 1995 scheme, I have increased the rates of allowance from £35 to £40, for a child attending primary school and from £50 to £55 for a post-primary pupil. It is expected that some 285,000 pupils will benefit under the scheme this year at a cost of approximately £12.9 million.