I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 80 together.
The means tests used to determine entitlement to all social assistance schemes include an assessment of the value of any capital or investments which the applicant may have. Different methods of assessment are applied in the various social assistance schemes. For example, in the case of unemployment assistance and supplementary welfare allowance, the first £400 is assessed at 5 per cent and capital in excess of this amount is assessed at 10 per cent. For old age pension purposes, an initial disregard of £200 is allowed, the next £375 is assessed at 5 per cent and the balance is assessed at 10 per cent.
There are about 430,000 people in receipt of a social assistance payment. In view of the large number of recipients involved, it would not be feasible, from an administrative point of view, to assess means from capital on the basis of actual returns from investments as this would necessitate frequent reviews of the entitlements of a significant number of recipients as rates fluctuate.