§ Mr. Hobdenasked the Minister of Social Security how many were in receipt of social security benefit in the Brighton area at the latest available date; how many of these were unemployed or on sickness benefit; and in how many of these cases the National Assistance benefit is reduced by the wage stop procedure.
§ Mr. PentlandI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to payments made under the existing National Assistance Scheme. The following table shows the information at 27th September, 1966, the latest date for which figures can be given for persons receiving sickness benefit or affected by the wage stop.
National Assistance allowances in in payment to:— Unemployed Persons Persons receiving Sickness Benefit All weekly National Assistance allowances in payment Total Wage Stop Total Wage Stop (2) 10,323 399 29 551 1 1. The figures quoted relate to the two former Brighton Area Offices of the National Assistance Board which deal exclusively with the County Borough of Brighton.
2. In addition to the 551 persons receiving National Assistance in supplementation of sickness benefit on 27th September there were 650 sick or disabled persons receiving National Assistance who were not in receipt of insurance benefit. It is not known whether the one temporarily sick person affected by the wage stop had sickness benefit.
3. At 25th October, 1966, there was a total of 10,574 weekly National Assistance allowances in payment of which 518 were received by unemployed persons.
4. In addition to those receiving National Assistance allowances a further 42 persons were in receipt of non-contributory old age pension.
5. Some of the allowances provided for the needs of more than one person, e.g. man and wife.