HC Deb 11 February 1977 vol 925 cc864-5W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the number of claimants who had their supplementary benefit (a) reduced or (b) withdrawn, on the grounds that they had left, lost or refused work without good cause for each year since 1974.

Mr. Orme

Following is the available information:

SUPPLEMENTARY ALLOWANCE REDUCED
Year Number of Claimants Affected
1974 22,000
1975 26,000

Note: These figures are obtained from the Annual Special Enquiry and relate to one particular day in each year.

SUPPLEMENTARY ALLOWANCE REFUSED OR WITHDRAWN
Year Number of Claimants Affected
1974 5,494
1975 4,262
1976 2,352

Note: These figures include a small number of cases where supplementary allowances were withdrawn for other reasons.

Mr. Gerry Fowler

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the estimated adult population were in receipt of supplementary benefit in the month of December 1976 in the designated area of Telford New Town and in the Metropolitan borough of Birmingham, respectively.

Mr. Orme

I regret the information is not available. It is estimated that in May 1975, to which the latest population figures refer, about 6½ per cent. of the total population of Birmingham were receiving supplementary benefits, but the number of their dependants is not available. A corresponding estimate for Telford New Town is not possible as the area administered by the Telford office extends well outside the town.