§ Dr. John A. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Insurance pensioners live in West Cumberland; what percentage of them is in receipt of supplementary benefits; and what is the corresponding national figure for those in receipt of the latter.
§ Mr. DeanIn the area covered by my Department's Workington and White-haven local offices, just over 5,600 retirement pensioners and widow pensioners aged 60–64 were receiving supplementary benefit in November, 1970. In addition, about 1,000 wives with retirement pension were provided for in their husband's supplementary pension. Records of national insurance retirement and widow pensioners are maintained centrally and reliable estimates cannot be given for small areas. I regret, therefore, that these figures cannot be expressed as a percentage of all the national insurance pensioners in the area. The corresponding national percentage is 28.