HC Deb 04 March 1968 vol 760 c10
9. Mr. Henry Clark

asked the Minister of Social Security how many persons over 80 years of age are in receipt of supplementary benefit.

Mr. Pentland

On a provisional estimate for Great Britain, about 450,000.

Mr. Clark

Can the Minister tell us what percentage it is of the 80-plus age group population, and how far that percentage has increased since the Minister's predecessor made her appeal on the wireless and on television 12 or 18 months ago?

Mr. Pentland

I would think that the number has increased by about 500,000.

Mr. Clark

But I asked for the percentage.