HC Deb 10 May 1989 vol 152 c443W
Sir Ian Gilmour

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children in Northern Ireland depended on(a) SB/IS and (b) FIS/FC in each year since 1978–79, (i) in total and (ii) as a percentage of all children in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Needham

[holding answer 4 May 1989]: The available information is as follows:

Dependants under 19 years of people on:
Supplementary benefit/IS FIS/FC
Year Numbers1 Per cent.2 Numbers1 Per cent.2
1978 70,545 14.57 30,402 6.28
1979 64,790 13.28 27,493 5.63
1980 80,308 16.42 28,857 5.90
1981 93,595 19.55 36,378 7.60
1982 109,863 23.17 38,734 8.17
1983 117,083 24.88 39,557 8.41
1984 116,256 24.86 40,813 8.73
1985 —3 — 42,613 9.16
1986 135,254 29.20 42,233 9.12
1987 134,052 29.14 40,982 8.91
1988 —4 — 537,500 8.19
1 Supplementary benefit/IS 5 per cent. sample and FIS 30 per cent. sample.
2 Represents the percentage of all children entitled to child benefit.
3 There was no survey in 1985.
4 Figures not yet available.
5 Estimated figure—incomplete date.