HC Deb 16 February 1984 vol 54 cc295-6W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently claiming (a) supplementary benefit, (b) housing benefit supplement, (c) certificated housing benefit and (d) standard housing benefit in Northern Ireland; and how many of these are (i) private tenants, (ii) owner-occupiers and (iii) public sector tenants.

Mr. Chris Patten

The number of people claiming supplementary benefit on 7 December 1983, the latest date for which figures are available, was 174,498. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of this figure in the form requested. The number of householders claiming supplementary benefit, housing benefit and housing benefit supplement on 27 January 1984 was as follows:

Supplementary Benefit and Certificated Housing Benefit Standard Housing Benefit Housing Benefit Supplement
Private tenants 13,224 4,143 524
Owner occupiers 27,423 25,708 97
Public sector tenants 72,724 39,370 1,786
Totals 113,371 69,221 2,407

Pupils who obtained Grade M in transfer procedure
(a) (b) (c)
Education and Library Board Parental first preference for grammar school Number of (a) admitted to grammar school (b) As percentage of (a)
1980–81
Belfast 580 380 65.5
Western 409 402 98.3
North-Eastern 562 440 78.3
South-Eastern 362 206 56.9
Southern 364 317 87.1
TOTAL 2,277 1,745 76.6
1981–82
Belfast 579 457 78.9
Western 392 386 98.5
North-Eastern 597 483 80.9

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many men in Northern Ireland between the ages of 60 and 65 years are claiming unemployment benefits and other benefits; and what is the total cost per year.

Mr. Chris Patten

For those benefits for which the information is available details of the numbers claiming are as follows. Because of variations in the rates of some benefits it is not practicable to estimate the total cost involved.

Benefit Numbers* Date†
Unemployment Benefit 1,275 May 1983
Sickness Benefit 1,200 May 1982
Invalidity Benefit 6,380 May 1982
Supplmentary Benefit 4,074 December 1982
Disablement Benefit 1,035 October 1982
Non-Contributory Invalidity Pension 365 May 1982
Invalid Care Allowance 21 August 1983
Attendance Allowance 450 October 1983
Mobility Allowance 722 December 1983
Notes
* Some claimants receive two or more of the benefits listed.
† These dates are the latest for which reliable information is available.