§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the number of(a) claimants and (b) dependants claiming each of the means-tested benefits for which he is responsible.
§ Mr. LesterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the reply to the then hon. Member for Kensington, 14 April 1986,Official Report, columns 271–72, estimating the total number of (a) families and (b) persons in the United Kingdom receiving income-related benefits; and if he will also estimate the number of families and persons who were entitled but not claiming.
§ Mr. Portillo[holding answer 11 July 1988]: This information requested is set out as follows:
Income-related benefit recipients and their dependants Great Britain—latest available figures ( Thousands) Date and benefit Number of recipients Number of dependants May 1987 Supplementary benefit 4,896 3,309 March 1988 Family income supplement 1210 1570 Autumn 1986 Standard HB 3,730 n/a Recipients getting one or more income-related benefit 2 8,400 n/a n/a—Figures not available. 1 Cases considered at time of conversion to family credit. The number of dependants is estimated from earlier figures. 2 This figure reflects an adjustment for the overlap between the benefits (ie people receiving two or more of the above benefits).