§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applicants for unemployment benefit are being referred to claim income support as a result of the actively seeking work test in(a) Leeds, West and (b) England and Wales.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe information requested is not kept and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the numbers of (i) claimants, (ii) dependants and (iii) total numbers dependent on income support in Scotland in each year since 1979.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardInformation for 1985 and 1990 is unavailable. The information for the years 1979–84 and 1986–89 is in the table.
Year Number of claimants Number of dependants Total number dependent on supplementary benefit/income support 1979 286,000 164,000 450,000 1980 304,000 177,000 481,000 1981 371,000 236,000 607,000 1982 423,000 281,000 704,000 1983 440,000 272,000 712,000 1984 468,000 302,000 770,000 1986 506,000 323,000 829,000 1987 535,000 323,000 858,000 1988 499,000 324,000 823,000 1989 486,000 309,000 795,000 Source: Annual Statistical Inquiry.