HC Deb 22 April 1987 vol 114 cc632-3W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the number of families on family income supplement and the number with children, (b) the number of one-parent families drawing the special allowance, (c) the number of families on unemployment benefit drawing social security and the number with children, (d) the number of other families on social security and the number with children, (e) the number of families paid other kinds of dependency addition and (f) the number of children covered by each of the foregoing categories.

Mr. Major

[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1987, c. 257]: The information requested is set out in the tables.

Benefit recipients, those with children, and children in recipient families Great Britain (thousands)
Table 1
Benefit1 Recipients2 Recipients with children Dependent children Date
Family income supplement 202 202 418 May 1986
One parent benefit 625 625 936 March 1987
Unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit 200 100 200 December 1984
Supplementary benefit only 34,410 930 41,750 December 1984
1 Families can be entitled to more than one benefit so figures cannot be added to give an overall total.
2 Includes families with children.
3 Total includes 1.7 million pensioners and 2.7 million allowance cases.
4 Principally children in unemployed or single-parent families but also including families experiencing sickness, disability and widowhood.

Dependancy increase recipients and children in recipient families Great Britain
Table 2
Benefit Numbers of recipients with dependancy increase Dependent children Date
Sickness benefit 45,500 1Not applicable March 1985
Invalidity benefit 391,327 192,927 March 1985
Severe disablement allowance 6,500 5,400 March 1985
Invalid care allowance 1,502 975 May 1987
Retirement pension 144,930 23,590 September 1986
Widowed mothers allowance4 58,270 86,310 September 1986
War pensions2 157,100 Not available December 1986
Unemployment benefit 132,705 1Not applicable May 1986
Maternity allowance3 149 1Not applicable March 1986
1 Dependancy increase for adults only.
2 Disablement pension with dependancy allowance and widows cases with dependent children.
3 Mother to be can claim addition for partner (specific circumstances apply when not married), if partner's income from earnings and-or occupational pension are below the level of the addition.
4 Includes overseas cases.