asked the Minister for Social Welfare the estimated number of small farmers who will have their social welfare allowances either abolished or reduced due to recent Government decisions.

By reason of the combined effect of the increases in the notional multipliers and the application of the general 12 per cent rate increases provided for in the budget the great majority of smallholders, approximately 13,000, will have their allowances increased. It is estimated that some 2,000 smallholders with valuations over £10 on unemployment assistance will lose entitlement. In the case of a further 6,500 there will be some reduction in their entitlement.

Is the Minister telling the House that 2,000 of the people who are at present in receipt of small farmers' dole are to have that allowance removed?

There are two points I want to make in connection with that. First of all, at least half of those would be single persons and they would all have a valuation of more than £10. Secondly, of course, anybody who is moved out of the scheme because of an increase in the notional multiplier has an entitlement to go back on factual means. If their factual means readmit them, then they come back into the scheme.

Even though they are single people they are human beings. Would the Minister care to be a single person living in the west on a valuation of £12?

If the means are inadequate the smallholder in question can go on to factual means and have his means so assessed.

17.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the amount of money which the Government will save by the recently announced increased multiplier for farmers who receive unemployment assistance.

The savings on the revised multipliers are estimated to be £2.5 million in 1979, and the cost in 1979 of the 12 per cent budget increases in rates of unemployment assistance to farmers is estimated at £2.34 million. The difference of £160,000 represents the estimated net saving to the Exchequer.