§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of household income in Wales and England, respectively, comes from social security benefits.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe latest available information relates to the two calendar years 1978 and 1979 taken together. The percentage of household income which came from social security benefits was 16 per cent. in Wales and 12 per cent. in England. These figures were derived from the Family Expenditure Survey and took account of normal gross household income—that is, before deduction of tax etc. They excluded short-term payments such as sickness and unemployment benefits where the recipient had been away from work for 13 weeks or less, but included all pensioner households.