HC Deb 13 February 1973 vol 850 cc299-300W
Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of claimants who have received free welfare milk in every quarter since June 1970.

Mr. Alison

The estimated numbers of families in Great Britain receiving free welfare milk, following claims on grounds of low income, at the end of each quarter since June 1970 were as follows:

Quarter Ended Number of Families
18th August 1970 1,509
17th November 1970 1,246
23rd March 1971 1,075
22nd June 1971 65,004
21st September 1971 65,907
23rd November 1971 52,466
21st March 1972 47,517
16th May 1972 40,146
22nd August 1972 32,370
21st November 1972 26,269

These figures do not include families receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement where expectant

Investigation into the sensitive area of causes of suicide and attempted suicide raises difficult questions of confidentiality and I doubt whether an official inquiry would be appropriate. I will, however, bear in mind the need for further research, although this should probably be directed at the causes of suicide and attempted suicide in general, rather than in urban areas as such where the rates do not appear to be significant in themselves.

Following is the information:

mothers and young children automatically qualify for free welfare milk without making a separate claim, nor families receiving free welfare milk on grounds of family size.

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