§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) pursuant to the reply of 23 October 1981, if the figures for 1979 are now available which will show how many children were living in families below the supplementary benefit level on supplementary benefit with incomes up to 10 per cent., 20 per cent., and 40 per cent. above supplementary benefit level classified by the employment status of the head of the family; and whether there were one or two parents;
(2) pursuant to the replies of 23 October 1981, Official Report, c. 202, and 25 January, Official Report, c. 281, on the basis of the 1979 family expenditure survey, how many children were living in families with incomes below supplementary benefit level and with incomes above but 145W within 10 per cent., 20 per cent. and 40 per cent. of it, classified by the unemployment status of the head of the family and by whether there were one or two parents.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate of the number of children (a) living below supplementary benefit level, (b) living in families receiving supplementary benefit and (c) living in families whose income is less than 40 per cent. above supplementary level.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 409–412]: Following the revision of "Low Income
Table 1: Families not receiving Supplementary Benefit Great Britain 1979 Average Thousands Employment category Below supplementary benefit level Above supplementary benefit level but within 10 per cent. of it Above supplementary benefit level but within 20 per cent. of it Above supplementary benefit level but within 40 per cent. of it Total below supplementary benefit and above supplementary benefit level but within 40 per cent. of it Families with Families Children Families Children Families Children Families Children Families Children In full time work or self-employed One parent [*] [*] [*] [10] [*] [10] [10] [10] [10] [10] Two parents 90 180 [40] [100] 120 320 390 960 480 1,140 One and two parents 90 180 [50] [110] 130 330 400 970 490 1,150 Sick or disabled for more than three months One and two parents [*] [*] [10] [10] [20] [40] [40] [90] [40] [70] Unemployed for more than three months One and two parents [10] [30] [10] [20] [20] [30] [30] [40] [40] [70] Others One parent [†] [†] [†] [†] [†] [†] [†] [†] 90 150 Two parents [†] [†] [†] [+] [†] [†] [†] [†] [20] [20] One and two parent [50] [70] [10] [10] [10] [30] [50] [100] 100 170 Total numbers of families and children One parent [40] [60] [10] [20] [20] [60] 70 130 110 190 Two parents 110 220 60 130 150 370 450 1,070 570 1,290 One and two parents 160 290 70 150 180 430 520 1,190 680 1,480 Notes: * Indicates that the number in the group is below 10,000; † Indicates that the sample is too small for a reliable estimate to be made. The figures shown in square brackets are subject to very considerable proportionate statistical error.
§ Dr Owenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of families in the following groups have incomes within 20 per cent. above supplementary benefit level: (a) elderly single people, (b) elderly couples, (c) single adults, (d) couples without children, (e) couples with children and (f) single-parent families;
(2) what percentage of families in the following groups have incomes at supplementary benefit level or below: (a) elderly single people, (b) elderly couples, (c) single adults, (d) couples without children, (e) couples with children and (f) single-parent families.
§ Mr. Tony Newton[pursuant to his reply, 7 April 1982, c. 411–414]: Following the revision of "Low Income Families—1979", of which the right hon. Gentleman is aware, some of the figures shown in the second and third columns of the table in my earlier reply need correction. The table, including the corrections, is reproduced as follows. The figures are subject to the notes set out in "Low Income Families—1979".
146WFamilies—1979", of which the right hon. Member and the hon. Member are aware, some of the estimates shown in table 1 of my earlier reply need correction. Table 1, including the corrected figures, is reproduced as follows. As I indicated in my earlier reply, it is not possible to give reliable estimates for all of the categories, because some of the samples are too small; and the estimates that are given are subject to the notes set out in "Low Income Families-1979". Table 2 in my earlier reply is not affected by the revision.
Great Britain FamilyGroup Percentage of families in each family group not in receipt of supplementary benefit but with incomes above but within 20% of the supplementary benefit level with incomes below the supplementary benefit level in receipt of supplementary benefit Over Pension Age (a) Single persons 19 15 33 (b) Married couples 19 11 14 Under Pension Age (c) Single persons with children 2 5 5 (d) Married couples without children 1 1 1 (e) Married couples with children 2 2 2 (f) Single persons with children 3 5 38
§ Mr. McTaggartasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number and percentage 147W of the total number of families in Scotland who are in the following categories: (a) below supplementary benefit, (b) in receipt of supplementary benefit and (c) up to 40 per cent. above supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 27 May 1982, c. 383–6]: Following the revision of "Low Income Families—1979", of which the hon. Member is aware, one of the figures shown at item (c) of the table in my earlier reply needs correction. The table, including the correction, is reproduced as follows:
Families and Single People with Low Incomes in Scotland in 1979 Number of families and single persons Approximate percentage of all families and single persons in Scotland (a) Income below supplementary benefit level; not in receipt of supplementary benefit 110,000 5 (b) In receipt of supplementary benefit 260,000 10 (c) Income above supplementary benefit level but less than 40 per cent. above; not in receipt of supplementary benefit 270,000 10 Notes on the table:
1. The estimate of those in receipt of supplementary benefit is derived from the annual statistical inquiry of supplementary benefit claimants. 148W The estimates of those with incomes below and above supplementary benefit level have been based on the DHSS analysis of income and other information recorded by respondents to the family expenditure survey—FES—1979.
2. These estimates, which have been rounded to the nearest 10,000 relate only to people living in private households, as people in institutions are not part of the FES sample. The figure for supplementary benefit claimants has been so adjusted as to be based on similar assumptions.
3. Income refers to net income less net housing costs and work expenses where appropriate. The supplementary benefit level has been taken as the scale rate(s) appropriate to the family, using the long term rates for pensioners only, but with heating additions for people of 75 years and over, and children under five, where the head is a householder.
4. The estimates for families with incomes above and below supplementary benefit level include examples where the head of the family had been off work due to sickness or unemployment for less than 13 weeks at the time of the survey. In these cases, the family's normal income when the head was in work was used in determining the level of income. Correspondingly the figures derived from the annual statistical inquiry exclude those who had been in receipt of supplementary benefit for less than 13 weeks.
5. The estimates are subject to statistical error.
6. The estimate of the number of families with income below the supplementary benefit level does not indicate unclaimed entitlement to supplementary benefit. For example, those who are in full-time work or undertaking full-time education would not normally have entitlement to supplementary benefit. Furthermore, no regard is had in these estimates to factors such as disregarded income, treatment of capital or exceptional circumstance additions, each of which can affect payment of supplementary benefit.