HC Deb 08 August 1980 vol 990 cc527-8W
Dr. McDonald

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the number of awards of benefit for asbestosis made by each pneumoconiosis medical board to

Mrs. Chalker

At 13 March 1980, the latest date for which figures are available, the number of registered unemployed persons in Wales was 92,000. I regret that information about the weekly cost of benefit, and the average weekly amount, is not available. However, it is estimated that unemployment and supplementary benefit amounting to £9 million was paid to unemployed persons in Wales during the month of March 1980, but not all those registered were in receipt of benefit.

Dr. Roger Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the numbers of families other than pensioner families who are qualifying for supplementary benefit in each of the Welsh counties; and how these figures compare in percentage terms with the average for the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Chalker

The information available, which I regret is not in the form requested, is given in the following table:

workers employed in the asbestos cement industry in each year since 1945.

Mr. Prentice

I regret that the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.