HC Deb 09 December 1988 vol 143 cc359-60W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many single parents are expected to claim the additional personal income tax allowance for 1988–89 and how many are widows; how many single parents claim one-parent benefit and how many widows with children receive a child dependency addition in respect of how many children; to what extent these two benefits have been increased to take account of the reduction in the real value of child benefit and the effect of inflation on the amounts payable in March 1986; and if he will bring up to date the benefit figures quoted in paragraph 4.10 of Cmnd. 9756.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I have been asked to reply.

It is estimated that 470,000 lone parents, including 60,000 widows, will claim the additional personal income tax allowance in 1988–89.

There are some 670,000 lone parents claiming one parent benefit. In March 1988 there were 61,176 widows claiming child dependency additions in respect of 92,086 children. These benefits have been increased in line with the increase in the index of retail prices since March 1986. No account has been taken of changes in the real value of child benefit.

The current rate of one parent benefit is £4.90 weekly (£5.20 from April 1989). Widowed mother's allowance is £41.15 weekly and the child dependency addition £8.40 for each child (£43.60 and £8.95 respectively from April 1989).

Mr. Austin Mitchell

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the number of single parents and the number of their children; how many are widows and with how many children; how many are covered by one-parent benefit and the child dependency addition and at what cost to Revenue; whether either or both of these benefits are taxable; and how many single parents claiming the additional personal income tax allowance do not claim one-parent benefit or child dependency addition, and at what saving to the Revenue;

(2) what is his estimate of the number of single parents and the number of their children; how many are widows and with how many children; how many are covered by one-parent benefit and the child dependency addition and at what cost to the revenue; whether either or both of these benefits are taxable; and how many single parents claiming the additional personal income-tax allowance do not claim one-parent benefit or child dependency addition, and at what saving to the revenue.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I have been asked to reply.

The latest available statistics on the numbers of lone parents and their children, provided by OPCS, are for 1984 when there were 940,000 lone parents with 1.5 million children. These figures include 98,000 widows with 147,000 children.

In 1984–85 565,000 lone parents received one parent benefit at a cost of £120 million. No statistics are kept on the numbers of lone parents among recipients of child dependency additions, which are payable with certain national insurance benefits on the basis of the claimant's contribution record. One parent benefit and child dependency additions are not subject to taxation.

A total of 460,000 lone parents, including 70,000 widows, qualified for the additional personal income tax allowance in 1984–85. Statistics are not kept on how many of these were or were not also claimants of one parent benefit or child dependency additions.