§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of claimants below pensionable age who have been dependent on supplementary benefit for five years or more, for each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. PortilloThe information is as follows:
Year Thousands 1977 218 1978 227 1979 234 1980 251 1981 281 1982 308 1983 348 1984 409 1986 535 1987 659 Source: Annual statistical inquiries.
There was no annual statistical inquiry in 1985: the one due in December that year was deferred until February 1986.