§ Mr. MaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single pensioner households in Scotland are in receipt of income support or have been in receipt of income support or supplementary benefit for each of the past five years, expressed as a percentage of all single pensioner households and as a numerical total.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe latest available information is in the table. The figures relate to single people aged 60 and over. The information requested is not available for single pensioner households.
317W
Single people in Scotland aged 60 and over Thousands 1983 1984 1986 1987 1988 (a) Total 2,195 2,192 2,178 2,174 2,168 (b) In receipt of Income Support 131 138 135 150 149 Percentage in receipt of Income Support 5.97 6.30 6.20 6.90 6.90 Note: The population figures are mid-year projections from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. The numbers of benefit recipients are taken from the Annual Statistical Enquiries (ASE) in December 1983, December 1984, February 1986, May 1987 and May 1988. No ASE was produced in 1985.