HC Deb 23 May 1980 vol 985 cc454-5W
Mr. Weetch

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients were made subjects of any of the sections 25, 26, 39, 60, 65 135 or 136 of the Mental Health Act 1959, for the years 1976 to 1979.

Sir George Young

The available information is as follows: by the direct fuel deduction scheme in respect of (a) gas and (b) electricity, at the end of the four most recent quarters for which figures are available.

Mrs. Chalker

The figures below show the number of deductions being made in respect of each fuel. Since some claimants are paying for both gas and electricity by means of direct payments, the figures overstate the number of claimants affected by the arrangements.

Electricity* Gas
Quarter ending:
June 1979 66,780 36,746
September 1979 64,654 35,497
December 1979 62,273 34,537
March 1980 62,720 34,308
* Figures included here for the two Scottish boards relate to quarters ending one month earlier.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average deduction suffered by supplementary benefit recipients covered by the direct fuel deduction scheme in respect of (a) gas and (b) electricity, at the most recent available date.

Mrs. Chalker

These figures are collected once yearly. On 29 November 1978, the latest date for which figures are available, the average amount deducted from weekly benefit in respect of gas was £3.49. In respect of electricity, it was £4.31. Both voluntary savings deductions and payments direct to the fuel boards are included.