§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all the benefits in cash or in kind for which his Department is wholly or partly responsible, which are subject to a means test, together with as much information as is available on the estimated number of people currently entitled to them and the number of people who have claimed their entitlement to the latest available date.
§ Sir K. JosephIn reply to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 24th November. Latest figures on successful claims in relation to the benefits referred to in the first part of that reply are as follows:
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Supplementary Benefits: Recipients of Regular Weekly Allowances Recipents as at 21st March, 1972 (excluding dependants) 2,967,000 Expectant mothers and young children in receipt of free welfare milk and vitamins (estimate of the position at October, 1971) 290,000 Recipients of Single Payment to meet immediate need During period 22nd September, 1971, to 21st March, 1972 2,277,000
Other Means-Tested Benefits to persons not in receipt of Supplementary Benefit Estimated number of persons in receipt of free welfare milk and vitamins at 21st March, 1972 77,000 Successful awards during the period 22nd September, 1971, to 21st March, 1972: Prescription charges 33,000 Dental charges 66,000 Optical charges 92,000 Hospital fares 11,000 Family Income Supplement Current awards 65,000 In addition an estimated 10,000 awards are in the process of being made. Certain supplementary benefit beneficiaries also benefit under the Family Income Supplements Act. Expectant mothers and young children in receipt of free welfare milk and vitamins (estimated current awards) 56,000 —[Vol. 826, c. 387–8.]