§ Rev William McCreaasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the total number of supplementary benefit claimants who were floated off benefit as a result of the introduction of the new housing benefit; and if he will break down this total according to whether the claimant was: (a) a pensioner, (b) unemployed, (c) sick and (d) a one-parent family.
§ Mr. Chris PattenA total of 5,791 supplementary benefit claimants were floated off benefit as a result of the introduction of the new housing benefit scheme. This figure includes an estimated 1.600 claimants who have qualified for housing benefit supplement. A breakdown by category is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.