§ Mr. Delargyasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance how many persons in Thu rrock are on National Assistance; and how many are old-age pensioners, widows, sick persons and unemployed.
§ Mr. PentlandSeparate figures are not available for Thurrock, but in the area covered by the National Assistance Board's office at Grays, which also covers the Canvey Island Urban District and Benfleet Urban District, there were, on 15th December, 1964, 5,596 people in338W receipt of national assistance, including 3,523 retirement and 181 noncontributory-old-age pensioners; 269 widows with benefit; 712 sick persons; and 248 unemployed persons. Some of the allowances to retirement pensioners covered the needs of more than one pensioner, being allowances to a married couple.