HC Deb 21 January 1977 vol 924 cc358-9W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the numbers of families claiming free welfare milk on grounds of low income for each quarter since July 1974, distinguishing between those claiming by the passport system and those making direct application.

Mr. Deakins

Figures of those claims to supplementary benefit or family income supplement which might have resulted in automatic entitlement to free milk are not available but the table below gives the total number of direct claims—successful or otherwise—rounded to the nearest 500 made from August 1974 for free milk in England on grounds of low income.

Period ending No. of Weeks
5th November 1974 12
25th February 1975 16
20th May 1975 12
12th August 1975 12
2nd December 1975 16
Period ending No. of claims
5th November 1974 4,500
25th February 1975 5,000
20th May 1975 4,500
12th August 1975 3,500
2nd December 1975 5,500

I regret that this information is not available for any later period.