HC Deb 05 February 1985 vol 72 cc551-2W
Mr. Anderson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what information he has on the numbers of supplementary benefits claimants of 25 years or under who have moved from their parents' homes in the most recently available period, broken down into the following categories: (a) those who were treated as non-householders in their new accommodation, (b) those who were treated as boarders in their new accommodation and (c) those who were treated as householders or joint householders in their new accommodation;

(2) what are the most recently available figures for the numbers of young supplementary benefit claimants who are living in their parents' homes, broken down into the following categories: (a) 16 and 17-year-olds, (b) 18 to 20-year-olds and (c) 21 to 25-year-olds; and what was the average amount of benefit paid for each of these groups;

(3) what are the most recently available figures for the numbers of young supplementary benefit claimants who are treated as boarders, broken down into the following categories: (a) 16 and 17-year-olds, (b) 18 to 20-year-olds and (c) 21 to 25-year-olds; and what was the average amount of benefit paid to each of these groups.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to his reply, 27 November 1984, c. 469]: The latest information we have comes from the annual statistical inquiry of December 1983. It is provisional and not exactly in the form requested. In particular we have no information about young people who have moved from their parents' homes. The figures are as follows:

Type of accommodation Claimants by age ranges
16 to 17 18 to 20 21 to 25
Board and lodging and hostel 6,700 13,300 17,200
Average amount of supplementary benefit £45.29 £47.49 *
All non-householders 158,300 334,100 206,000
Average amount of supplementary benefit £16.95 £24.18 *
Householders 8,100 75,400 232,400
Average amount of supplementary benefit £27.62 £31.30 *
* Not available.

We would expect most young claimants who are non-householders to be in their parents' households. The average benefit figures are net of other income such as unemployment benefit which falls to be taken into account in the supplementary benefit assessment.