HC Deb 04 July 1990 vol 175 cc606-7W
Mr. Clay

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate how many families with children in low-paid work have(a) gained, (b) lost and (c) experienced no change of income from the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986, including both the changes to family credit and housing benefit.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Illustrative information is set out in the publication "Impact of the reformed structure of Income Related Benefits" (October 1987), copies of which are available in the Library.

Mr. Clay

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportions of(a) lone parents and (b) couples with children are reliant on income support.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

It is estimated that income support contributes to the household incomes of around two in three lone parents and just under one in 10 families with dependants.1 1 The term "dependants" has been used as not all dependants fall within the strict definition of children, i.e. that they are aged under 16.