§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will provide an estimate of the number of social security and housing benefit claimants who would cease to be eligible for each category of housing benefit or social security if child benefit were to be increased to (a) £15 and (b) £20 per week.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the number of claimants for each benefit administered by the Department of Health and Social Security in Wales;
(2) how many people are entitled to each of the benefit payments available through the Department of Health and Social Security in Wales; and what is the level of take-up.
§ Mr. Major[pursuant to his reply, 17 April 1986, c. 452]: The latest figures for people in receipt of various social security benefits in Wales are as follows, where figures are available.
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Benefit Numbers in receipt (thousands) Date Retirement Pension 479 30 September 1985 Widows' benefits (excluding Widow's Allowance) 20 30 September 1985 Child Benefit 331 31 December 1985 One-Parent Benefit 23 31 December 1985 Unemployment Benefit 49 14 November 1985 Maternity Allowance 5 31 March 1985 Maternity Grant *40 Guardian's Allowance †— 31 December 1985 Severe Disablement Allowance 19 30 March 1985 Sickness Benefit 17 30 March 1985 Invalidity Benefit 108 30 March 1985 Attendance Allowance 42 31 March 1985 Mobility Allowance 37 11 April 1986 Industrial Disablement Benefit 20 30 September 1983
Benefit Numbers in receipt (thousands) Date War Pensions 15 31 December 1985 Death Grant ‡40 Family Income Supplement 12 25 February 1986 Supplementary Benefit 259 13 February 1985 *Total number of grants in year from October 1984 to September 1985 †Actual number of recipients is 127 ‡ Number of grants in 1985 I regret that estimates of potential benefit entitlement and take-up are only available for Great Britain as a whole.