§ Mr. Newtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will bring up to date the information contained in his answer to the hon. Member for Braintree, Official Report, 25th May 1977, columns 465–6.
§ Mr. OrmeIt is estimated that in December 1976 there were about 450,000 families in Great Britain, in which the head of the family was under pension age, in full-time employment or self-employed, and the family's net income was less than, or no more than 10 per cent. above, supplementary benefit level.
The estimate is based on a DHSS analysis of information recorded by respondents to the 1976 family expenditure survey. It is rounded to the nearest 10,000 and is subject to sampling error. Only the population living in private households is included. The supplementary benefit level is taken as being the supplementary benefit scale rate(s) appropriate to the family. Income is net income from all sources less net housing costs and work expenses.