§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people received social security benefits in each year from 1979 to the latest date available; and what was the percentage increase from 1979 in each case.
§ Mr. ScottI regret that information in the form requested is not available and an estimate could be provided only at disproportionate cost, as information on numbers receiving benefit is collected separately for each benefit, and claimants may receive more than one benefit at any one time. An estimate of the numbers of claimants receiving each of the main benefits for the years 1978–79 to 1988–89, and the percentage increase since 1979, are shown in the table.