§ Mr. Leightonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were receiving supplementary benefit from local offices of his Department in the London borough of Newham in 1979 and at the latest available date.
§ Mr. MajorThe London borough of Newham is covered by three of the Department's offices, Canning town, Plaistow and Woodgrange Park, but their boundaries are not conterminous. The total number of people receiving supplementary benefit from these offices on 15 May 1979 and 6 May 1986 was:408W
Number 1979 17,234 1986 33,592 Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people of working age are receiving supplementary benefit in (a) the west midlands area, (b) the black country area of the west midlands and (c) the borough of Walsall; how many in each case have been in receipt of supplementary benefit for 12 months or more; and what were the comparable figures for May 1979 and the percentage increase in each category.
§ Mr. MajorThe black country area of the west midlands is covered by the Department's offices at Dudley north and south, Smethwick, Walsall, east and west, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton north and south.
The borough of Walsall is covered by the two Walsall offices.
The numbers of people of working age receiving supplementary benefit in (a) the west midlands area, (b) the black country area of the west midlands and (c) the borough of Walsall at 6 May 1986, the latest available date, and in May 1979, and the percentage increases were
1979 *1986 Percentage Increase West Midlands 126,331 367,410 190.8 Black Country 26,623 94,726 255.8 Walsall 6,381 20,743 225.1 Information about the length of time people were in receipt of supplementary benefit in May 1979 and May 1986 is not available.
* West midlands region was merged with part of East midland and East Anglia region in 1982 to form the present midland region. But for the sake of consistency, the table shows, for 1986, the total figures for those offices which were formerly part of west midland region.
Source: 100 per cent. count of cases in action.
§ Mr. Gordon Brownasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons were in receipt of (a) supplementary benefit and (b) supplementary pension in (i) Scotland and (ii) the United Kingdom at the latest date for which figures are available.
§ Mr. MajorThe table shows the number of people receiving(a) supplementary allowance and (b) supplementary pension in Scotland and the United Kingdom on 6 May 1986.
Scotland United Kingdom* Supplementary allowance† 380,625 3,558,836 Supplementary pension 148,209 1,710,624 * Includes people receiving supplementary benefit and supplementary pension in Northern Ireland on 6 May 1986. † All people below pension age who were receiving supplementary benefit on 6 May 1986.
§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of people claiming supplementary benefit in the Glasgow, Maryhill constituency in 1979 and 1985; what percentage change that represents; and if he will give the percentage change in staff handling supplementary benefit and in total staff at local offices of his Department in the same period.
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§ Mr. Dixonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the number of people who claimed supplementary benefit in the Jarrow constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; and what percentage change this represents;
(2) what was the percentage change in staff handling supplementary benefit between 1979 and 1985.
§ Dr. Brayasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Motherwell and Wishaw constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at his Department's local offices for the same period.
§ Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Falkirk, West constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local offices of his Department for the same period.
§ Mr. O'Brienasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Normanton constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at his Department's local offices for the same period.
§ Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Easington constituency in 1979 and 1985, respectively; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (a) staff employed on supplementary benefit and (b) all staff employed at his Department's local offices, Peterlee and Seaham, for the same period.
§ Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many staff were employed at the local Wrexham office of his Department in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; how many of the staff were involved in handling supplementary benefit; and how many of these staff were involved in handling supplementary benefit for the Wrexham constituency area;
(2) how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Wrexham constituency area in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; and what percentage change this represents.
§ Mr. Patchettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Barnsley, East constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change that represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local office of his Department over the same period.
§ Dr. Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Copeland constituency in (a) June 1979 and (b) June 1985; what percentage change this represents; and what was the percentage change in (i) staff handling supplementary benefit and (ii) all staff at the local office of his Department over the same period.
§ Mr. Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the St. Helens, North constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; and what percentage change this represents;
410W(2) what was the percentage change in (a) staff handling supplementary benefit and (b) all staff at local offices of his Department in the St. Helens, North constituency between 1979 and 1985.
§ Mr. Dewarasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed supplementary benefit in the Glasgow, Garscadden constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; what percentage change in the number of claimants occurred between 1979 and 1985; and what was the percentage change in the number of staff (i) handling supplementary benefit claims and (ii) the total number of staff at local offices of his Department serving the constituency over the same period.
§ Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people claimed supplementary benefit in Caerphilly constituency in (a) 1979 and (b) 1985; and what percentage change that represents;
(2) what was the percentage change in (a) staff handling supplementary benefit and (b) all staff at his Department's local offices in the Caerphilly constituency between (i) 1979 and (ii) 1985.