§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the extra £380 million a year added to social security benefits fur one-parent families referred to by his right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security on 21st June 1977 represents general upratings of benefits and how much represents special help for one-parent families in recognition of their special needs.
§ Mr. Orme,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th July 1977; Vol. 935, c. 32–3], gave the following information:
Of the estimated total of about £380 million as at November 1976, about £230 million was attributed to uprating improvements; about £130 million to increased expenditure on supplementary benefit, largely because of an increased number of beneficiaries; and the remainder to child interim benefit. I am not sure what "special help" my hon. Friend has in mind, but the bulk of the expenditure to which I referred, particularly that attributed to widowed mother's allowance and other widows' benefits under the national insurance, industrial injuries and war pensions schemes and to supplementary benefit, recognised the needs of one-parent families.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will itemise the £650 million a year of social security benefits paid to one-parent families referred to by his right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security on 21st June 1977 into the individual benefits paid, showing in each case the cost and the number of lone parents in receipt.
635W
§ Mr. Orme,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th July 1977; Vol.
ESTIMATED LEVELS OF BENEFITS FOR ONE-PARENT FAMILIES AS AT NOVEMBER 1976 Benefits Numbers of lone parent beneficiaries assumed for the estimates of levels of expenditure Estimated levelsof expenditurefor lone parents£ million per annum Widowed mother's allowance and other widows' benefits … … … 120,000 167 Child interim benefit … … … 200,000 16 Family allowances … … … 270,000 38 Supplementary benefit … … … 330,000 420 Family income supplement (FIS) … … … 35,000 9 Others (sickness, unemployment etc.) … … … 16,000 8 Total … … … 658* * Rounded to—650.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many lone parents are in receipt of (a) child benefit and (6) child benefit increase at the present time.
§ Mr. Orme,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th July 1977; Vol.
636W935, c. 32–3], gave the following information:
935, c. 33], gave the following information:
The number of lone parents in receipt of child benefit is not know because information on type of family is not material to their claim for that benefit. The number in receipt of child benefit increase is about 240,000.