§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of retirement and other pensioners in Wales listed by county have applied for supplementary benefit; and what percentage of these applicants was awarded supplementary benefit during an average week between January and March 1980 and January and March 1981.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerInformation on supplementary benefit claims in Wales, listed by county, is not available, nor is information on claims as a percentage of the pensioner population eligible to claim, that is, the total less married women other than those who are divorced or separated.
However, between January and March 1980, the average number of claims per week from people over pension age in Wales was 5,787: the average number of awards of supplementary pension was 3,808–66 per cent. of this figure. In the corresponding period in 1981, there was an average of 5,811 claims per week, of which 3,907–67 per cent. were successful.