HC Deb 26 February 1986 vol 92 cc619-21W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the number of claimants in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit, (b) supplementary benefit and (c) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit excluding lone parents, couples with children and pensioners for the latest available year in Scotland;

(2) what was the number of claimants in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit, (b) supplementary benefit and

Great Britain Scotland Wales Latest available date
Unemployment benefit 654,000 85,000 36,000 November 1984
Supplementary benefit 1,630,000 190,000 100,000 December 1983
Unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit* 100,000 10,000 5,000 December 1983

* These figures are included in the overall supplementary benefit figures.

(c) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit excluding lone parents, couples with children and pensioners for the latest available year in Wales;

(3) what was the number of claimants in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit, (b) supplementary benefit and (c) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit, excluding lone parents, couples with children and pensioners for the latest available year.

Mr. Major

[pursuant to his reply, 10 February, 1986 c. 371]: The information requested is given in the table.

Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the number of claimant couples with children in receipt of (a) family income supplement, (b) unemployment benefit, (c) supplementary benefit and (d) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for the latest available year in Scotland;

(2) what was the number of claimant couples with children in receipt of (a) family income supplement, (b)

Number of claimant couples with children in
Benefit (i) Great Britain (ii) Scotland (iii) Wales Latest available date
Family income supplement 115,000 12,000 8,000 November 1985
Unemployment benefit* 22,200 2,900 1,200 November 1984
Supplementary benefit 395,000 40,000 25,000 December 1983
Unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit 105,000 10,000 5,000 December 1983

*Figures related solely to claimants in receipt of adult and child dependency additions.

These figures are included in the overall supplementary benefit figures.