HC Deb 28 July 1977 vol 936 cc588-90W
Mr. Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) in what publications his Department advertised for tenders for the contract to improve the A.55 trunk road to the east of Abergele, Clwyd;

(2) whether he will take steps to ensure that invitations to tender for roadwork contracts in North Wales are advertised in the local Press;

(3) whether, in view of the current shortage of construction work in North Wales, he will reopen the tender list for the contract to improve the A.55 trunk road to the east of Abergele, Clwyd.

Mr. Barry Jones

It is not the Department's policy to seek tenders for highway construction work by open invitation in the Press. In accordance with the Directives of the European Economic Community, the scheme was advertised in the Official Journal of the Communities. This procedure forms part of the Department's normal selective tendering procedures involving the invitation of tenders from selected local and national firms of known competence and standing which have

FAMILIES AND PERSONS DEPENDENT ON SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT
(Thousands
Grand total Over pension age Unemployed Others under pension age
Families Persons Families Persons Families Persons Families Persons
December 1948 … 1,011 N/A 638 N/A 53 N/A 320 N/A
December 1949 … 1,157 N/A 719 N/A 66 N/A 372 N/A
December 1950 … 1,350 N/A 852 N/A 77 N/A 421 N/A
November 1951 … 1,440 2,048 952 1,156 55 125 433 767
November 1952 … 1,636 2,390 1,086 1,308 90 221 460 861
November 1953 … 1,735 2,492 1,184 1,413 87 217 464 862
November 1954 … 1,778 2,494 1,248 1,483 75 180 455 831
November 1955 … 1,598 2,196 1,144 1,343 54 120 400 734
November 1956 … 1,637 2,264 1,180 1,385 64 152 393 726
November 1957 … 1,712 2,384 1,237 1,448 96 233 379 703
November 1958 … 1,649 2,361 1,134 1,319 151 382 364 660
November 1959 … 1,766 2,573 1,213 1,413 155 411 398 749
November 1960 … 1,857 2,678 1,307 1,532 128 336 422 809
November 1961 … 1,844 2,608 1,276 1,489 131 317 437 802
November 1962 … 2,007 2,975 1,331 1,565 202 528 474 882
November 1963 … 1,971 2,911 1,295 1,517 185 469 491 925
November 1964 … 1,761 2,774 1,342 1,565 131 319 488 890
November 1965 … 1,997 2,840 1,377 1,607 112 272 508 962
December 1966 … 2,495 N/A 1,819 N/A 179 N/A 497 N/A
November 1967 … 2,559 3,848 1,796 2,160 228 604 534 1,084
November 1968 … 2,637 3,995 1,848 2,224 225 608 556 1,164
November 1969 … 2,688 4,097 1,875 2,259 228 617 585 1,221
November 1970 … 2,738 4,166 1,902 2,296 240 617 596 1,253
November 1971 … 2,909 4,564 1,919 2,310 387 993 603 1,261
November 1972 … 2,911 4,528 1,909 2,295 392 965 609 1,268
November 1973 … 2,675 4,022 1,844 2,197 249 599 583 1,226
November 1974 … 2,680 4,092 1,807 2,136 302 726 571 1,229
December 1975 … 2,793 4,434 1,679 1,963 541 1,225 572 1,245
December 1976 … 2,940 N/A 1,687 1,981 654 N/A 599 1,317
Information regarding number of persons dependent on supplementary benefit is not available for the years 1948–50 and 1966, nor yet, in relation to the unemployed, for 1976.
Persons receiving widows pension are included amongst "others under pension age" up to 1966 even though they may have exceeded it.

Mrs. Wise

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applicants would be entitled to long-term addition to supplementary benefit if the qualifying time were reduced from two years to

previously confirmed their wish to tender. I am satisfied that the procedures have been correctly carried out in this case and I would not be justified in reopening the tender list.