§ 1. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Social Security what was the total cost of National Assistance in Dorset in 1964 and 1967, respectively.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Social Security (Mr. Norman Pentland)I regret that this information is not available, because the records of payments are not kept on a county basis.
§ Mr. DigbyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is growing evidence of the decreased opportunities in Dorset, owing to the Government's policies?
§ Mr. PentlandI would not know about that, but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that in the year ended 31st March, 1964, the cost of National Assistance non-con 2 tributory pensions, in Great Britain, excluding administration, totalled £217 million. In the year ended 31st March, 1967, the total cost of National Assistance and supplementary benefits, again excluding administration, was £298 million, as a result of the Government's policy of increasing these benefits.