§ Mr. Marplesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number of families at present on National Assistance, showing also the numbers receiving assistance of under £5 per week, £5 to £10, £10 to £15, and over £15, respectively, and indicating the total amount being paid out in National Assistance per week at the present time.
§ Mr. SwinglerInformation about the ranges of supplementary benefit in payment is obtained from an annual sample inquiry, and the results of the November 1968 inquiry will be available in the spring. Meantime the most recent relevant information relates to November, 1967 and is as follows:
Payment No. of families* £5 per week or less … … 2,182,000 £5 1s. to £10 … … 310,000 £10 1s. to £12 10s. … … 52,000 More than £12 10s. … … 15,000 Total … … 2,559,000 * Each claimant counting as a family unit, whether or not with dependants. The total average weekly expenditure on supplementary benefits is at present about £8¾ million.