§ 10. Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money his Department has spent in each of the last three years for which figures are available on publicity informing persons of their entitlement to social security benefits; and in what ways and proportions these figures were allocated.
§ Mr. DeanThe figure for 1971–72 was £399,400 of which 77 per cent. was spent on family income supplement, 12 per cent. on attendance allowance and 9 per cent. on pensions for the over-80's. I will, with permission, circulate figures for the two earlier years in the Official Report.
§ Mr. ChapmanI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he appreciate that there is a need for a continuing, sustained publicity campaign to warn people of their entitlement, the more so when one realises the many new benefits which have been brought into existence during the last two years?
§ Mr. DeanI am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing attention to that. We intend to continue the publicity arrangements, but perhaps I may remind the House that for the largest bulk of people, namely, retirement pensioners, in most cases the initiative for the claim is taken by the Department and does not have to be taken by the individual himself.
§ Following is the information:
§ Expenditure on publicising Social Security Benefits:
| £ | ||||
| 1970–71 | … | … | … | 142,400 |
| 1969–70 | … | … | … | 83,300 |
§ This was mainly allocated as follows: 1970–71:
§ Pensions for the very elderly—40 per cent.
1386§ Extension of Widows'Pensions—22 per cent.
§ 1969–70: Increase in retirement pension—90 per cent.