asked the Minister for Social Welfare the total number of applications received by his Department in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 for the (a) deserted wife's allowance and (b) deserted wife's benefit.

17.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of persons in receipt of (a) deserted wife's allowance and (b) deserted wife's benefit at 31 December 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together. The reply is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

The following is the statement:

Separate statistics of the numbers of applicants for deserted wife's allowance and deserted wife's benefit are not maintained as a common application form is used and most wives make application under both schemes at the same time.

Could I hear the reply to those questions again?

It is a tabular statement.