HL Deb 09 May 1988 vol 496 cc959-60WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many persons in Northern Ireland had direct debits subtracted from their welfare benefits on a given date in each of the last five years, under the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act 1971.

Lord Lyell

Information is not held in the precise form requested. However, the number of deductions made from social security benefits under the payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 at 31st March in each of the last 5 years was:

1983 8,275
1984 8,855
1985 10,767
1986 11,274
1987 12,620