HL Deb 19 January 1984 vol 446 cc1152-3

3.18 p.m.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords. I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of those entitled to receive one-parent benefit are receiving it.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, the latest estimate, for December 1981, shows that about 70 per cent. of those who stand to gain by claiming one-parent benefit are receiving it.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords, I should like to thank the Minister for that Answer. But would she not agree that it is very worrying that this benefit has such a very low take-up rate when it is a recognised fact that children of one-parent families are among the most deprived in the country? Will the Minister say what the Government are doing to publicise the existence of this benefit? Secondly, will the Government consider using paid television advertising to try to get through to the 30 per cent. of these families who are in very great need and do not appear to know of this entitlement?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, we have taken a number of steps to improve take-up, such as inserting advertisements in the child benefit order book, using leaflets, posters and television fillers. In case the noble Baroness does not know this, a television filler is a short advertisement transmitted free of charge both by the BBC and the ITV when there are suitable gaps in a programme. If the noble Baroness has any brilliant ideas for informing more people, I am quite sure that my right honourable friend in another place would be delighted to hear them.

Baroness Jeger

My Lords, does not the noble Baroness agree that those child benefit books containing notices are going to the 70 per cent. who already receive child benefit? My noble friend's question referred to the remaining 30 per cent. I wonder whether the Government have any knowledge of any racial or linguistic problems? Are there any leaflets in languages other than English which might help people to be more aware of their rights?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, so far as I know, this matter is not at all on a racial or linguistic basis. I can give the noble Baroness the numbers of those who do not claim one-parent benefit and the value of the unclaimed benefit. Of the total number of one-parent families, about 540,000 receive one-parent benefit and others receive supplementary benefit or national insurance benefit. The remainder, some 140,000 families, who could have gained financially have not claimed one-parent benefit. The value of the unclaimed benefit in 1981–82 was £25 million. An explanation of the take-up of those figures was placed in the Library of the House of Lords in April 1983. If the noble Baroness has any evidence that lack of take-up is on a racial or a language basis, I should be very glad to hear more from her.

Lord Renton

My Lords, can my noble friend say whether any steps are being taken to convert one-parent families into two-parent families by making the fathers face up to their responsibilities?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I am not quite sure what to say in answer to my noble friend. I suppose that where the father is known it might be possible.

Lord Banks

My Lords, in view of the high percentage of one-parent families who are on supplementary benefit, and who as a consequence gain no financial advantage from claiming one-parent benefit, will the Government consider disregarding one-parent benefit for the purposes of supplementary benefit?

Baroness Trumpington

No, my Lords.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords, will the Minister agree that, as the number of single parent families is unfortunately increasing, and as the take-up of the benefit is clearly proving difficult, the Government will begin to think that it is becoming important to replace the present benefit with a non-contributory, non-means tested, benefit in the line of a widow's benefit?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, naturally the Government will take note of the noble Baroness's words.

Lord Rea

My Lords, I wonder whether, in view of the £25 million which the Government are saving through the non-take-up of these benefits, some of this money could possibly be used to persuade one-parent families to become two-parent families, or for other brilliant ideas which the noble Baroness or others may produce.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I take note of the noble Lord's remarks.