§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average amount of family income supplement unclaimed by families entitled to it in Northern Ireland at the latest date.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThis information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, the number of claimants of family income supplement in Northern Ireland has increased by some 74 per cent. since 1979 partly as a result of Government publicity campaigns. It is estimated that the level of take-up is now very high and the amount of unclaimed benefit is likely to be small.