§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the numbers of retired pensioners living in each of the regions of the United King-
180W(7) from information available from international sources, what proportion of national income per head is spent by France on the social services; and how this compares with the United Kingdom.
§ Sir K. JosephI regret that the information asked for in the Questions is not available. I would, however, refer my hon. Friends to the figures I gave in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 12th February. The European Community Information Office has published in the booklet "The Common Market and the Common Man" the following figures of expenditure on social welfare and security in 1967 (excluding administrative costs):
dom; and what is the number of pensioners in each region that are also in receipt of supplementary pension benefits.
§ Sir K. JosephThe following table gives estimated figures. The numbers of retirement pensioners include persons receiving Old Persons' Pensions and National Insurance widow beneficiaries aged 60 and over.
Estimated numbers at December, 1970 Region Retirement pensioners (thousands) Retirement pensioners in receipt of supplementary pension (thousands) United Kingdom 7,770 2,180 England 6,560 1,800 Northern 480 170 Yorkshire and Humberside 680 220 East Midlands and East Anglia 720 190 South Eastern 2,460 590 South Western 530 150 West Midlands 730 190 North Western 960 290 Wales 380 130 Scotland 660 200 Northern Ireland 170 50