HC Deb 24 July 1987 vol 120 cc679-82W
Mr. Frank Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of single mothers on benefit now and in 1979; and if the number can be given accurately as to whether the mother is aged between 16 and 17, 17 and 18, 18 and 19, 19 and 20, 20 and 21, 21 and 25, 25 and 30, and 30 and by the number of children for whom each mother is responsible.

Mr. Scott

The information is not available in exactly the form requested but the following details may be helpful:

Supplementary Benefit

The total number of lone mothers together with the total number of children at November 1979 and February 1986 is as follows:

Lone mothers Children
November 1979 302,000 524,000
February 1986 562,000 919,000

A limited amount of information is available on lone mothers not classified as widows, sick or disabled, or unemployed and this is as follows:

Lone mothers Children
November 1979 297,000 517,000
February 1986 553,000 910,000

Lone mothers by age (thousands)
Age November 1979 February 1986
16 1 2
17 4 5
18 6 12
19 9 15
20 11 21
21–24 49 107
25–29 60 134
30–34 62 102
35 and over 95 156
Total 297 553

Columns may not sum to total due to rounding.

Lone mothers by number of children
Thousands
Number of children November 1979 cases February 1986 cases
One 154 301
Two 89 173
Three 36 58
Four 14 16
Five 4 3
Six 1 1
Seven 1 1
Eight
Nine
Total 297 553
1 Less than 500.

Note: Columns may not sum to totals due to rounding.

Source: All data: Annual Statistical Enquiries.

One Parent Benefit

The total number of lone parents receiving one parent benefit (the vast majority of which will be lone mothers) together with the total number of children at 1979 and 1987 is as follows:

Lone parents Children
December 1979 381,000 595,000
June 1987 642,000 964,000

Table 31.34 of "Social Security Statistics 1986", a copy of which is in the Library, records the numbers of families receiving one parent benefit and the numbers of children in those families for years up to 1985.

Widowed mother's allowance with dependent children

The number receiving widowed mother's allowance with dependent children in 1979 and 1986 is as follows:

Widowed mothers Children
November 1979 86,590 132,230
September 1986 58,280 86,310

Tables 11.34, 11.38 and 11.39 of the "Social Security Statistics 1986" give some information about the age ranges of widows and the average number of children.

Family income supplement

Family income supplement payable to female lone parents in 1979 and 1986 is as follows:

Lone parents female Children (approx.)
December 1979 44,000 93,000
April 1986 83,000 131,000

Table 32.50 and 32.40 of the "Social Security Statistics 1986" give some information about the

Hospital medical consultants in surgical specialties 1 analysis by specialty and nature of contract with employing authority in England
30 September 1986
Surgical specialties
Number
Employing Authority General Surgery Cardio-thoracic Surgery Otolaryngology
Whole-time 2 Part-time Honorary Whole-time 2 Part-time Honorary Whole-time 2 Part-time Honorary
Northern RHA 27 32 5 9 13
Newcastle DHA 5 6 2 4 1 1 2 6
Yorkshire RHA 11 37 3 4 14
Leeds Western DHA 6 1 1 2
Leeds Eastern DHA 4 1 2 1 1 1
Trent RHA 13 30 4 2 4 17
Leicestershire DHA 2 7 5 3 1 4
Nottingham DHA 3 6 3 1 1 1 3 1
Sheffield DHA 7 3 4 3 1 2 3
East Anglia RHA 6 20 1 3 2 1 12
Cambridge DHA 1 3 2 1 2 3

numbers of children in one parent families where the female is head of household and the age ranges of heads of families.

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