To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people under the age of 23 years were in receipt of (a) supplementary benefit and (b) housing benefit at the latest available date; and what were the corresponding figures for 1983 and 1986.

[holding answer 4 May 1988]: On 31 May 1987, the latest date for which information is available, 738,000 people under the age of 23 years were in receipt of supplementary benefit. The corresponding figures for 1983 and 1986 were 807,000 and 843,000, respectively.Source: Annual Statistical Enquiries.