HC Deb 03 December 1976 vol 921 cc301-2W
Mr. Giles Shaw

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people are currently in receipt of social security benefits;

(2) how many people were in receipt of social security benefits for each of the years 1945 to 1975.

Mr. Deakins

Information is not available in the form requested, but the hon. Member may find useful the figures given below, for the years 1954–1975. Columns (2) and (4) set out the total number of benefits and allowances—including national insurance benefits, supplementary benefit, industrial injuries benefits, war pensions, family income supplement and family allowances—which, on average, were being paid in any week in the years specified. Since many people receive more than one benefit, the total number of beneficiaries is much less than the total number of benefits and allowances.

AVERAGE NUMBER OF BENEFITS IN PAYMENT
Year Number (million)
1954 … … … … 11.5
1955 … … … … 12.0
1956 … … … … 12.0
1957 … … … … 12.5
1958 … … … … 13.0
1960 … … … … 13.5
1961… … … … 14.0
1962 … … … … 14.0
1963 … … … … 14.0
1964 … … … … 14.5
1965 … … … … 15.0
1966 … … … … 15.5
1967 … … … … 16.0
1968 … … … … 16.5
1970 … … … … 17.0
1971 … … … … 17.0
1972 … … … … 18.0
1973 … … … … 18.5
1974 … … … … 18.0
1975 … … … … 8.5

Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the average benefit per head paid from the National Insurance Fund to employed persons earning over £1,600 per annum in the last year for which records are available;

(2) what was the average benefit per head paid from the National Insurance Fund to self-employed persons earning over £1,600 per annum in the last year for which records are available.

Mr. Deakins

I regret that the information requested about the self-employed is not available and that similar information about the employed could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.