§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number and rate per thousand of each category of single payments in the years 1978–1985 inclusive.
§ Mr. Major[pursuant to his reply, 19 December 1985, c. 321–22]: Information about the number of single payments by category is available from the "Annual Statistical Enquiry" and the details in the table relate to the years 1978 to 1983, the latest date for which information is available. The figures in the table relate to single payments made during the 12 months preceding the date of the inquiry to those in receipt of supplementary benefit at the time of the inquiry, and do not therefore record all of the single payments made during the year. Because of this the figures are indicators of changes over time rather than absolute values.
§ Mr. Hayhoe[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986]: There are currently two membership vacancies on North Western regional health authority. One of these relates to the place that my right hon. Friend would normally seek to fill with a member with a background in the wider trade union movement. As a result of difficulties in securing suitable nominations, this vacancy has existed since October 1984. New nominations have, however, been received recently and are being considered.