HC Deb 21 February 1989 vol 147 cc556-7W
Mr. Hume

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has on the numbers of single parents claiming income support at each social security office in Northern Ireland in 1988 and the number of single parents who claimed supplementary benefit in each social security office in 1985, 1986 and 1987.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 13 February 1989]: Reliable information is not available in the form requested. The available information is as follows:—

Numbers of single parents on— (i) Supplementary benefit (all SSOs):
Year Number
1986 17,240
1987 19,830
Source: Annual survey—5 per cent. Sample.
(ii) Income support1
19881
Social Security Office
Andersonstown 1,382
Antrim 880
Armagh 306
Ballymena 624
Ballymoney 320
Ballynahinch 125
Banbridge 313
Bangor 527
Carrickfergus 457
Coleraine 742
Cookstown 226
Corporation Street 1,912
Downpatrick 301
Dungannon 398
Enniskillen 413
Falls Road 1,657
Holywood Road 1,143
Kilkeel 104
Knockbreda 637
Lame 341
Limavady 271
Lisburn 765
Londonderry 2,147
Lurgan 636
Magherafelt 358
Newcastle 124
Newry 658
Newtownabbey 751
Newtownards 434
Omagh 485
Portadown 404
Shaftesbury Square 811
Shankill 789
Strabane 569
Total 22,010
1 Represents the numbers of single parents under pension age excluding those receiving a disability premium.