HC Deb 17 December 1971 vol 828 cc217-9W
Mr. Skinner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many

claims and awards for each of these benefits to date; and what proportion these are to the total numbers eligible.

Mr. Alison

The approximate numbers of claims and awards made in Great Britain for persons in low income families, other than those receiving supplementary benefits or family income supplement, are set out in the table below; reliable estimates of the numbers entitled to these benefits are not possible because of the variable factors involved.

officers are employed by the Supplementary Benefits Commission; how many civil servants have registered a claim for family income supplement; and how many awards have been made to them.

Sir K. Joseph

Officers engaged on work for the Supplementary Benefits Commission are employed by my Department; they are now in the main integrated with former Pensions and National Insurance staff and it is no longer possible to identify them separately. No separate records are maintained of family income supplement claims by, or awards to, civil servants.

Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to make available family income supplement statistics for areas smaller than departmental regions.

Sir K. Joseph

I am examining the possibility of doing so.