§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list, for the latest convenient date, the number of children in Northern Ireland for whom social security benefits are paid, and indicate the amount paid in respect of each child or age band and the total for the last financial year and the expected totals for 1984;
(2) how many persons, other than children, at the latest convenient date were in receipt of each social security benefit in Northern Ireland; and what were the sums paid in respect of each benefit in the last financial year and the expected outturn for the present year.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Estimates of the average numbers receiving the main benefits at any one time are, however, given in table 2.17.20 of "The Government's Expenditure Plans" of February 1984—Cmnd. 9143–11.