HC Deb 18 December 1986 vol 107 cc693-4W
Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the people in the United Kingdom who received supplementary benefit in the latest year for which statistics are available were staying in board and lodging houses.

Mr. Lyell

The latest available information on the numbers of people claiming supplementary benefit for charges in all types of ordinary board and lodging accommodation including hostels is for December 1985 for Great Britain and February 1986 for Northern Ireland and shows 127,000 and 1,000 recipients respectively.

Dr. Godman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many exceptionally severe weather payments were made to recipients of supplementary benefit for the month of February 1986 in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Greenock and Port Glasgow; what was the total amount paid out; and what was the average payment in (i) Scotland, (ii) Strathclyde and (iii) Greenock and Port Glasgow.

Mr. Lyell

Final figures for Scotland and Strathclyde are not yet available. The latest available information is as follows:

Local office/region Total number of payments Total amount paid £ Average payments £ p
Scotland 84,000 1,922,578 22.89
Strathclyde 50,969 1,172,877 23.01
Greenock1 1,920 49,911 26.00
Port Glasgow1 1,072 25,666 23.94
1 These are final figures.