HC Deb 11 November 1975 vol 899 cc630-1W
Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons in the Western Isles are currently in receipt of retirement pensions, supplementary benefit, and supplementary pension.

Mr. Meacher

I regret that information on the number of retirement pensions in the Western Isles is not available. However, in June 1974, the latest date for which there is a figure, there were about 7,000 people over pensionable age. In August 1975, the latest date for which figures are available in this respect, supplementary benefit was being paid to about 4,500 beneficiaries, of whom about 3,000 were in receipt of supplementary pension. The number of supplementary pensions being paid to retirement pensioners was about 2,300.