HL Deb 22 March 1979 vol 399 cc1402-3WA
Lord VAIZEY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the numbers and percentage of unemployed claimants drawing supplementary benefits for each year since 1948.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

The information is in the following table:

Year (November) Great Britain Registered unemployed receiving supplementary benefit (thousands)(1),(2) Percentage of all registered unemployed
1948 53 16
1959 66 20
1950 77 25
1951 66 23
1952 102 25
1953 94 29
1954 80 30
1955 61 27
1956 73 28
1957 96 30
1958 151 29
1959 129 30
1960 107 30
1961 103 27
1962 150 28
1963 155 32
1964 111 32
1965 91 28
1966 119 25
1967 192 34
1968 190 34
1969 196 35
1970 200 34
1971 332 39
1972 358 45
1973 228 45
1974 266 43
1975 479 44
1976(May)(3) 554 46
1977 659 49
1978 605 47

Notes

(1) National Assistance to 1966.

(2) Figures to 1958 taken from 100 per cent. count at National Assistance Board Offices. Figures from 1959 taken from 100 per cent. count of unemployed persons at Unemployment Benefit Offices.

(3) No count in November 1976 due to industrial action.