HC Deb 26 January 1998 vol 305 cc8-9
6. Mr. Allan

What estimate she has made of the number of new applicants for lone-parent benefits from Yorkshire in the year beginning April 1998. [23057]

Mr. Keith Bradley

It is estimated that around 25,000 new awards of income support will be made to lone parents in Yorkshire in 1998–99. Similar estimates cannot be made for new awards of the lone-parent rate of child benefit.

Mr. Allan

While any measures that help lone parents who are looking for paid work are welcome, does the Minister acknowledge that a proportion of those new claimants will wish to work full time at home, bringing up their young children? Does he accept that they do so with the best possible motive, of lone parents having to provide the parental contact of two parents? Will the Minister consider reinstating extra benefit for lone parents with children under five?

Mr. Bradley

I understand the hon. Gentleman's concern. All families will now receive the same rates of child benefit and family premium, but existing lone parents will continue to receive the higher rates—there will be no cash losers. We have brought forward the new deal for lone parents, and an extra £25 million has been made available under the new deal, to lone parents who wish to work and whose youngest child is under five.

Ms Ward

Is my hon. Friend aware that in many parts of the country, including Yorkshire, lone parents are attempting to improve their education by going to university to study and are finding it increasingly difficult to pay their mortgage, study full time and raise their children? Will my hon. Friend consider providing extra support for those lone parents and making a statement to the House at a future date?

Mr. Bradley

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her comments. I encountered a similar constituency case just this weekend, involving exactly the same point. I can assure my hon. Friend that we shall consider the matter urgently, to see what assistance may be available.

Mr. Ian Bruce

Has the Minister been able to make an estimate for Yorkshire—or if he does not have that exact figure, for the rest of the United Kingdom—of the proportion of lone mothers who will come off benefit because of changes in circumstances in the first full year, such as going to work or finding a new partner? What proportion of existing lone mothers on premiums will come off benefit in the first year?

Mr. Bradley

I understand the hon. Gentleman's comments. I do not have those estimates, but I shall write to him with an evaluation of the point that he raised.