HC Deb 12 January 1987 vol 108 cc132-3W
Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will retabulate the data on low-income families given in the answer of 25 July on a male-female basis according to the following age groups: under pension age, less than 20, 20 to 29, 30 to 44 and 45 plus years and over pension age, 60 to 64, 65 to 69, 70 to 79 and 80 plus years.

Mr. Major

[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1986, c. 70]: The readily available information is shown in the following table:

Low-income families 1983—Number of families1 appearing in the tables by sex and age of head
(Thousands)
Receiving supplementary benefit or housing benefit supplement Not receiving supplementary benefit or housing benefit supplement but with relative net resources less than Total Heads (Great Britain)
100 110 120 140
Under pension age
Males, aged
less than 20 180 230 250 340 1,530
20–29 140 260 340 550 3,940
30–44 140 220 320 610 5,480
45–64 200 270 320 550 5,630
Females, aged
less than 20 160 220 220 320 1,200
20–29 100 130 150 190 1,560
30–44 30 40 50 130 880
45–60 70 100 140 240 1,070
Total 2,040 1,010 1,470 1,790 2,930 21,290
Over pension age
Males, aged
65–69 100 210 290 460 1,110
70–79 200 380 540 740 1,650
80 or over 40 70 90 130 380
Females, aged
60–64 90 110 150 200 520
65–69 70 130 190 270 600
70–79 250 450 600 710 1,540
80 or over 110 140 220 310 820
Total 1,600 870 1,490 2,080 2,820 6,610

Note:

1A family is defined in terms of the assessment unit for supplementary benefit, ie a single person or married couple with their dependent children, if any. (Dependent children are those aged less than 16 or 16–19 and still in full-time non-advanced education.)