§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims have been received for free welfare milk and other foods and for exemption from prescription, dental and optical charges, on grounds or low incomes, other than by persons in receipt of supplementary benefits, in each week since 20th July, 1971; and how many awards were made in each of these weeks.
§ Mr. DeanThe approximate numbers of claims and awards made in respect of persons in low income families, other than those in receipt of supplementary benefits or family income supplement, in Great Britain are:
§ Mr. DeanIn November, 1970, about 269,000 children under five in Great Britain were living in families receiving supplementary benefit. About 85 per cent. had received token books for free welfare milk with the supplementary benefit books and some of the others 375W would have received token books under the arrangements for providing them for large families.
The total number of children under five in families in receipt of Family Income Supplement is not known. Some children in such families have received token books for free welfare milk under the arrangements for large families. All the other children under five in such families should have also received token books and by October, 1971, these numbered about 48,000.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many families are receiving free welfare milk and for how many beneficiaries, in each of the following categories, namely, those receiving supplementary benefit, those receiving family income supplement, others entitled on grounds of low income, others entitled on grounds of family size, others entitled as expectant mothers, and others not included in these categories;
(2) how many certificates of exemption from prescription charges are currently in issue; and how many of these were issued to persons qualifying by
Grounds for receipt of benefit Number of Families Number of Expectant Mothers and Young Children Family size … … … … … … … … … 140,000 150,000 In receipt of Supplementary Benefit … … … … … 193,000 290,000 In receipt of Family Income Supplement … … … … … 37,000 50,000 On low income (but not in receipt of Supplementary Benefit or Family Income Supplement) … … … … … … … 66,000 100,000 Handicapped child (5–16 years but not attending school) … … 2,000 2,000
The numbers of certificates of exemption from prescription charges in issue are as follows:— Category of Holder Effective Date Number (Great Britain) In receipt of Supplementary Benefit (certificate holders under 65) … … … … … … … … November, 1970 … 865,000 In receipt of Family Income Supplement … … … 30th November, 1971 62,000 Low income (but not in receipt of Supplementary Benefit or Family Income Supplement) … … … … … 19th October, 1971 … 63,000 War/Service pensioners under 65 (for the treatment of their accepted war/service disablement) … … … … December, 1970 … 240,000 Expectant mothers and mothers of children under one year of age … … … … … … … … 30th June, 1971 … 930,000 Persons suffering from specified medical conditions … … 30th June, 1971 … 490,000 Prepayment Certificates … … … … … … October, 1971 … 175,000 Persons aged 65 or over and children up to age 15 are exempt without certificates.