§ Mr. Alec Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are at present in receipt of the over-80 retirement pension; and how many of these were in receipt of supplementary benefit prior to the introduction of that pension.
§ Mr. DeanIt is estimated that in November 1973 there were 116,000 people in receipt of old person's pension. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available, but in November 1973 32,000 of those receiving old persons' pensions were also in receipt of supplementary benefit.