assistance through the Housing Allowance Programme during a typical month in 1994, a Minister said in the House of Assembly on Friday.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness was responding to Parliamentary questions from Shadow Health Minister Mr. Nelson Bascome.

Mr. Edness explained that the most recent financial assistance statistics were not ready because of computer problems.

He said that 549 households headed by persons under age 65 were drawing housing allowance under the Housing Allowance Programme during any given month. Similarly, 1,311 people under 65, including their dependants, benefitted from social assistance during a typical month in 1994. Of these, 598 were heads of households.

Mr. Edness was unable to give a detailed break-down of workers in the hospitality industry who were receiving social assistance or a housing allowance during October 1993 to January 1994 and October 1994 and January 1995.

He explained that his difficulty was because the Financial Assistance Department does not identify its clients by their employer.

Mr. Edness did say, however, that between October 1993 and January 1994 there were 232 "seasonably employed people'' receiving social assistance or housing allowances on average each month.

Between October 1994 and January 1995 the figure was 147 for this group as a monthly average.