§ Mr. MaxtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many single-pensioner households in Scotland are in receipt or have been in receipt of housing benefit for each of the past five years, expressed as a percentage of all single-pensioner households and as a numerical total.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI regret that information is not available in the form requested. In 1988 in Scotland, an estimated 250,000 single people aged 60 or over were receiving housing benefit. This represents 11.3 per cent. of the total single-person population aged 60 or over in Scotland.
§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the most recent figures for the total number of(a) single parents in Scotland, (b) single-parent households in Scotland and (c) single-parent households in Scotland in receipt of housing benefit.
§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard[holding answer 22 February 1990]: We do not hold precise information about the single-parent population in Scotland. It is broadly estimated that in 1986 there were 100,000 single parents in Scotland, including single households which cannot be identified separately. I regret that comparative information for housing benefit is not available before May 1988 when an estimated 80,000 single parents in Scotland were receiving benefit.