§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each main category of national insurance beneficiaries the number and percentage in each category who were drawing less than the full national insurance benfit for the latest available date.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that information is not available in the form requested. The numbers and percentages of beneficiaries receiving less than the standard rates of national insurance benefits because of insufficient contribution are as follows:
the Council and the Family Planning Association.
The two grants were initially for a period of three years starting on 1 January 1976 and therefore subject to review at the end of this year.
In addition, the Department sponsors courses run by the education unit of the Family Planning Association for health and social work professionals. The estimated cost of courses sponsored in the current financial year is £45,000. Each application to fund courses is considered on its merits.
In recent years a grant has been made to the Albany Trust by the voluntary services unit of the Home Office. The question of a renewal of this grant for the present financial year is now however the responsibility of this Department and is at present being considered; no conclusion has yet been reached. In the meantime, in order to avoid financial difficulty for the Trust, a payment of 401W £3,750, equivalent to one quarter of the previous level of grant, has so far been made in this financial year in respect of the first quarter.