§ Mr. Dixonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the following information on supplementary benefits in 1971 and 1972, respectively, giving in each case the figure both for strikers and their dependants, the number of such recipients, the number of working days lost, the total amount of supplementary benefit paid to them, excluding post-strike payments, and the average amount paid per working day lost, excluding post-strike payments;
(2) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the following figures for the years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively, the 47W number of working days lost in industrial disputes, the potential claim for supplementary benefits arising from those disputes, assuming that each claimant's family consisted of a husband, a wife and two children aged between five and 10 years, the actual payment of supplementary benefits to them and the percentage that the actual payment was of the potential claim.
§ Mr. DeanAs the figures requested by my hon. Friend require extensive explanations, I am writing to him.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether strikers' dependants are entitled to free spectacles and dental treatment.
§ Mr. DeanSupplementary benefit may be paid to meet a National Health Service charge incurred by a striker's wife, provided the normal qualifying conditions for payment of benefit under Section 6 of the Ministry of Social Security Act 1966 are satisfied. Optical and dental treatment are available free of charge for all children.