§ Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present number of old-age pensioners; what proportion of these is in receipt of supplementary benefit; and what are the equivalent figures for 1969.
§ Mr. Ennals:In Great Britain in March, 1969, there were 7.2 million pensioners (including elderly widows) of whom 28.4 per cent. were receiving supplementary pension. It is provisionally estimated that in March, 1970 there were about 7.4 million pensioners of whom approximately 27.5 per cent. were receiving supplementary pension.