§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have been in receipt of supplementary benefit in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Chris PattenIt is not possible to provide the information requested as the numbers of recipients are80W continuously changing. The total number of people in receipt of supplementary benefit in Northern Ireland on a given date in each of the last five years is as follows:
Number 7 May 1985 182,133 8 May 1984 176,461 10 May 1983 169,434 11 May 1982 155,958 17 February 1981* 133,965 * Information in respect of 12 May 1981 is not available because of industrial action.