§ Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of families being supported by (a) supplementary benefit, (b) unemployment benefit, (c) family income supplement and (d) single parent benefit in the Borders area of his Department for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Borders area is covered for supplementary benefit purposes by one DHSS office and for unemployment benefit purposes by two unemployment benefit offices.
The total number of (a) supplementary benefit cases and (b) unemployment benefit cases handled at May of each of the years requested was:
(a) Supplementary benefit Number 1979 3,951 1980 3,845 1981 4,514 1982 5,257 1983 5,778 1984 5,947
(b) Unemployment benefit Number 1979 522 1980 619 1981 * 1982 1,061 1983 1,185 1984 * * Not available. Information on the number of families paid these benefits is not available. Figures of those paid unemployment benefit in 1981 and 1984 are not available due to industrial action.
Information is not available about family income supplement and single parent benefits in individual local office areas.