asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update, giving data for each relevant year, the answer given to the hon. Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw), Official Report, 3rd December 1976, column 301–2, of the number of benefit recipients.

The information requested is as follows:

AVERAGE NUMBER OF BENEFITS IN PAYMENT
Year					Number (Millions)
1976	…	…	…	…	18·9
1977	…	…	…	…	22·0

Note:1. These figures represent the total number of social security benefits and allowances which on average were being paid in any week in the years specified. The number of benefit recipients is not known but would be smaller, as many people receive more than one benefit.2. The substantial increase in the number of benefits paid in 1977 as compared with 1976 reflects the introduction of child benefit which is payable for the first child as well as for second and subsequent children.