§ Mr. ClayTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing public expenditure in 1987–88 prices on(a) assistance with housing costs for supplementary benefit recipients between 1977–78 and 1982–83, (b) rent allowances and rebates between 1977–78 and 1982–83, (c) certificated housing benefit between 1982–83 and 1987–88, (d) housing benefit for income support recipients between 1988–89 and 1990–91 and (e) housing benefit for people not on income support between 1988–89 and 1990–91.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe information requested is in the table. The figures are consistent with those published in successive public expenditure White Papers between 1983 and 1988.
Great Britain, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Wales, (v) Northern Ireland, (vi) each Department of Social Security region and (vii) each constituency.
493W
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe information is not available in the exact form requested. However, the numbers of families and children to whom and for whom child benefit was in payment at 31 December 1987 is as follows:
(a) Families (b) Children (i) Great Britain 6,681,000 11,961,000 (ii) England 5,710,000 10,242,000 (iii) Scotland 623,000 1,099,000 (iv) Wales 348,000 620,000 Child benefit is normally paid to the mother. It is administered centrally and information is not collected for specific regions or constituencies. The Northern Ireland child benefit scheme is administered separately and is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.