§ Mr. Hodgsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of people drawing means-tested social security benefits, broken down by category of benefit at the most recent date available and at the equivalent date in 1976 and 1974.
§ Mr. Deakins, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26 January 1979; Vol. 961, c. 284], gave the following information:
The estimated numbers of claimants receiving means-tested social security benefits in 1974, 1976 and 1978 are shown in the table below.
(2) if he will state the value of linen and clothing lost in National Health Service hospitals, and their laundries from theft, fire, flood or other causes, respectively, for the years 1976, 1977 and 1978;
(3) if he will state details of the economic appraisal, in respect of both the revenue and capital implications recommended by his Department, to be taken by health authorities when making new 181W arrangements for the provision of laundry and linen facilities;
(4) if he will set out the criteria that his Department recommend that health authorities should use in deciding whether or not to use commercial laundry services for National Health Service hospitals; and if he will make a statement;
(5) if he will state the number of National Health Service laundries serving hospitals, their locations, and the number of persons employed in each.
§ Mr. DeakinsI shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.