§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the total number of claimants in the Dundee area who have been refused benefit through the decision of an independent adjudication officer; if he will break this figure down according to the reasons for withdrawal of benefit; and if he will provide the information requested for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. Portillo[holding answer 24 March 1988]: Statistics are available only for the number of supplementary benefit decisions where benefit was refused during the period 14 552W April 1982 to 9 February 1988. There are no corresponding statistics for contributory benefits. The total number of decisions where supplementary benefit was refused for the above period, in the two local offices serving the Dundee area is as follows:
Dundee East Dundee West 1982–83 3,964 2,770 1983–84 3,089 2,946 1984–85 2,735 3,129 1985–86 3,818 3,376 1986–87 4,731 3,970 1987–88 3,239 2,319 I regret that the reasons for refusal of benefit are not recorded and that no statistics are kept in respect of benefits withdrawn once entitlement has been established.