§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total expenditure, broken down by convenient district units, on social security in each of the past six years and in the current year:
(2) what percentage of total public expenditure broken down by convenient district units, in Northern Ireland has been spent on social security in each of the years 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85.
§ Dr. BoysonThe information is as follows:
Financial year Total expenditure on Social Security £ million Social Security expenditure as a percentage of total public expenditure 1978–79 497 23.3 1979–80 589 24.1 1980–81 716 24.7 1981–82 868 27.0 1982–83 995 28.4 1983–84 *1,107 29.1 1984–85 *1,184 29.4 * Estimated figure. Information on expenditure broken down by district or other units is not available.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the total numbers, by convenient district units, claiming each of the various benefits, supplements and allowances paid by the Department of Health and Social Services including the various additions and single payments under supplementary benefit, for the current year and each of the past six years.
§ Dr. BoysonThe information requested is extremely detailed, and I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the total numbers, by district, claiming housing benefit; and how many such claimants are totally dependent on social security.
§ Dr. BoysonInformation is not available on the number of recipients totally dependent on social security but the table shows the number who are in receipt of supplementary benefit.
45W
District Council Area Number of Persons in Receipt of Housing Benefit Number of Housing Benefit Recipients also in Receipt of Supplementary Benefit Antrim 4,700 3,000 Ards 6,500 3,700 Armagh 4,800 3,100 Ballymena 5,600 3,300 Ballymoney 2,800 1,700 Banbridge 3,200 1,700 Belfast 46,600 30,200 Castlereagh 5,700 2,900 Carrickfergus 3,400 2,000 Coleraine 6,000 3,800 Cookstown 3,400 2,400 Craigavon 9,300 5,900 Deny 12,300 8,600 Down 5,200 3,000 Dungannon 5,200 3,700 Fermanagh 6,000 4,000 Larne 3,200 2,000
District Council Area Number of Persons in Receipt of Housing Benefit Number of Housing Benefit Recipients also in Receipt of Supplementary Benefit Limavady 3,000 2,100 Lisburn 9,500 6,000 Magherafelt 3,900 2,600 Moyle 1,900 1,300 Newtownabbey 8,400 4,900 Newry 10,700 7,100 North Down 6,300 3,000 Omagh 4,600 2,900 Strabane 5,000 3,600 Total 187,200 118,500
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available, for the current year and each of the past six years, to indicate by convenient district units, the total number of households or individuals in Northern Ireland totally dependent on social security benefits and allowances.
§ Dr. BoysonThe information requested is not available.