Supplementary Benefit Recipients (Hansard, 22 October 1973)

§ Mr. Ashley
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the following are receiving supplementary benefit, (a) widows without dependent children, (b)widows with dependent children, (c)separated and divorced wives without dependent children, (d)separated and divorced wives with dependent children, and (e)unmarried mothers.
429W

§ Mr. Dean
The numbers in the respective categories receiving supplementary benefit in November 1972 were as follows:

Widows without dependent children 1,129,000

Widows with dependent children 26,000

Separated and divorced wives without dependent children 116,000

Separated and divorced wives with dependent children 157,000

Unmarried mothers 63,000

§ Mr. Ashton
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people, including dependants, receiving supplementary benefit are below pensionable age.

§ Mr. Dean
As at November 1972, about 2.2 million.

Thousands

Usually Resident in Families

Total With no Dependent Children With Dependent Children Not usually Resident in Families

1 2 3 4

1. All Married Women … … 13,682.6 6,702.2 6,618.3 362.1

2. Wives In Married Couples … … ^* 6,646.9 6,429.6 ^*

3. Married Lone Mothers … … ^* 55.3 188.7 ^*

4 Widows … … 3,058.1 508.6 140.7 2,408.8

5. Divorced Women … … 309.2 32.5 121.3 155.4

6. Single Women … … 3,993.3 11.5 49.1 3,932.7

^* Not available.

Notes

(A) A family is either

(i) a married couple with or without their never-married children who are usually resident together; or

(ii) a mother or father and his or her never-married children, who are usually resident together.

(B) Dependent children are either

(i) under 15 years of age; or

(ii) older students under 24 years of age.

(C) The 1971 Census does not distinguish separated wives who are not usually resident with their children from other married women. Row 3 therefore relates only to separated mothers usually resident with their children. Similarly single mothers not usually resident with their children cannot be distinguished from other single women. Row 6 therefore relates only to single mothers who usually reside with their children. Thus column 4 includes some women of all statuses with dependent children who are not usually resident with them.

Widows without dependent children	1,129,000
Widows with dependent children	26,000
Separated and divorced wives without dependent children	116,000
Separated and divorced wives with dependent children	157,000
Unmarried mothers	63,000

Thousands
				Usually Resident in Families
			Total	With no Dependent Children	With Dependent Children	Not usually Resident in Families
			1	2	3	4
1. All Married Women	…	…	13,682.6	6,702.2	6,618.3	362.1
2. Wives In Married Couples	…	…	^*	6,646.9	6,429.6	^*
3. Married Lone Mothers	…	…	^*	55.3	188.7	^*
4 Widows	…	…	3,058.1	508.6	140.7	2,408.8
5. Divorced Women	…	…	309.2	32.5	121.3	155.4
6. Single Women	…	…	3,993.3	11.5	49.1	3,932.7
^* Not available.
Notes
(A) A family is either
(i) a married couple with or without their never-married children who are usually resident together; or
(ii) a mother or father and his or her never-married children, who are usually resident together.
(B) Dependent children are either
(i) under 15 years of age; or
(ii) older students under 24 years of age.
(C) The 1971 Census does not distinguish separated wives who are not usually resident with their children from other married women. Row 3 therefore relates only to separated mothers usually resident with their children. Similarly single mothers not usually resident with their children cannot be distinguished from other single women. Row 6 therefore relates only to single mothers who usually reside with their children. Thus column 4 includes some women of all statuses with dependent children who are not usually resident with them.