§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of retirement pensioners were receiving supplementary benefit in 1971 and in 1980 respectively.
§ Mrs. Chalker28.6 and 21.4 per cent. in 1971 and 1980 respectively.
Note: These figures relate to Great Britain. A man and his wife who each have a retirement pension and for whom supplementary pension is payable are counted as two individual persons and not as one household.
§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of all State paid cash benefits was paid to retirement pensioners in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what is the estimate of this proportion by the year 1990.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAbout 52 per cent. in 1980–81. I regret that all the information required to calculate the proportion in 1990 is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.