§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Brent, East on 20 November 1981, Official Report, column 260, what would be the annual cost at current benefit levels if pregnant women in receipt of supplementary benefit or dependent on someone who was in receipt of supplementary benefit were given a weekly diet supplement of (a) 1.30 a week, (b)0.05 a week, (c) 0.25 a week or (d) 0.30 a week for (i) 13 weeks of pregnancy and (ii) 26 weeks of pregnancy.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe cannot estimate accurately how many pregnant women are receiving supplementary benefit. It is a reasonable assumption, however, that the number would be high enough to result in a significant benefit cost if a weekly diet supplement was paid for part of the pregnancy.