§ Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of people in receipt of supplementary benefit in the week ended 8th December; and how many of these received the £10 Christmas donation.
§ Mr. DeanAbout 2.9 million people were receiving supplementary benefit, about 1 million of whom were under pension age. The payments were made to about 1.9 million supplementary pensioners, of whom all but about 100,000 also qualified by virtue of receipt of retirement pension.