HC Deb 10 June 1988 vol 134 c723W
Mrs. Golding

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services when the report of the advisory committee into the safety of slimming products will be available; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Currie

Guar gum and glucomannan are widely used as stabilisers in food and are approved for such use under regulations. It is the level of these substances in certain slimming products which has created some concern.

Owner occupiers in receipt of Supplementary Benefit (Great Britain)
1981 1982 1983 1984 11985 1986 31987
1. Number of owner occupiers on Supplementary Benefit receiving help with mortgage interest (000s) 196 235 242 277 — 356 334
2. Total amount included in benefit assessments for help with mortgage interest (£ million) 2124 2170 152 219 — 351 335
3. Average weekly amount included in individual assessments (£) 12.18 13.87 12.12 15.18 — 18.96 19.31

Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry.

1 No figures available for 1985.

2 Data collected on a different basis and not directly comparable.

3 Provisional figures.