asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons in the Greenock-Port Glasgow area were in receipt of supplementary benefit in June, 1970, and at the latest convenient date.

Figures for June, 1970, are not available. In May, 1970, there were 6,900 persons receiving supplementary benefit in the area covered by the Greenock and Port Glasgow local offices; in November, 1971, the number was 7,300.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what sum of money was paid to unemployed persons receiving supplementary benefit in Scotland in the last available month; and what was the corresponding sum in June, 1970.

In October, 1971, £2·18 million was paid in supplementary benefit to unemployed persons in Scotland. The figure for June, 1970, was £0·97 million.