§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is possible to estimate the degree of dependence on means-tested benefits including housing rebates, supplementary benefits, family benefits and student grants, in each of the EEC member States, showing (a) expenditure on means-tested benefits as a percentage of total expenditure on transfer payments and of gross domestic product, and (b) the number of people affected as a percentage of total population in each member State.
§ Mr. DeakinsAs far as I am aware, this information is not available and could only be obtained through disproportionate effort and expense on the part of the nine member States of the EEC.