§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the amount of social security benefit paid in Wales in 1982–83;
(2) what is the proposed cut in social security benefit for Wales in 1984–85.
§ Dr. BoysonThe information necessary to make such estimates is not available. Some indications of social security expenditure in Wales are given in "Regional442W Trends", published annually by HMSO. This contains an explanation of some of the difficulties in producing such estimates.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the amount of social security benefit likely to be paid in 1983–84.
§ Dr. BoysonNew estimates are being produced, and will be published shortly in the Public Expenditure White Paper.
§ Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the people of Wales receiving social security benefit are retirement pensioners.
§ Dr. BoysonAt March 1983, retirement pension was in payment to 474,600 people in Wales, of whom some 87,000 were also receiving supplementary pension. Since many people receive two or more social security benefits an estimate is not available of the number of people in Wales who receive at least one such benefit.