§ Mr. Beggsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Royal Air Force in Northern Ireland are claiming supplementary benefit, family income supplement or rent and rate rebates.
§ Mr. Chris PattenRegular members of the armed forces are not eligible for supplementary benefit. Separate figures are not held of those who are claiming family income supplement nor is information readily available either about the number of members of the forces in Northern Ireland who are receiving assistance with their housing costs under the housing benefits scheme or the separate forces' rent and rate rebates schemes. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.