§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the population of the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland, over the age of 16 is not currently in receipt of any of the following: retirement pension, unemployment or sickness benefit, family incomes supplement, rebates on rent or rates, and student grants.
§ Mr. O'MalleyDue to fluctuations in the numbers of people in receipt of these benefits, and because people may be in receipt of more than one of the benefits, it is not possible to give an exact figure. But it is estimated that the proportion of the population of Great Britain over the age of 16 and not in receipt of the benefits named is between 70 per cent. and 75 per cent.