§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Social Security what is the estimated value of benefits currently being paid by her Department; what percentage of this is represented by benefits involving a test of means; what is the total staff of the Department; and what is the estimated number involved in administering means tested benefits.
§ Mr. PentlandSocial security benefits are being paid at the rate of about £3,000 million a year, of which supplementary benefits represent approximately 13 per cent. The total staff of my Department is about 62,000, of whom some 18,000 are employed in the administration of supplementary benefits.