HC Deb 21 May 1990 vol 173 cc73-4W
15. Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to assist lone parents living on benefits to be able to move into work or training.

25. Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to assist lone parents living on benefits to be able to move into work or training.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

The benefit system already contains a number of special provisions to help lone parents who wish to work. Regular payments of maintenance can also provide a valuable stepping stone from benefit to work. We are currently reviewing the maintenance system to see what improvements are needed.

22. Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much a lone parent with two children would have to earn to be better off in work than on benefits, making an appropriate assumption about the costs of child care.

42. Ms. Primarolo

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much a lone parent with two children would have to earn to be better off in work than on benefits, making an appropriate assumption about the costs of child care.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Members for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short) and for Halifax (Mrs. Mahon) earlier today.

49. Dr. Moonie

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to assist lone parents who are not living on benefits to obtain maintenance from the absent parent.

55. Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to assist lone parents who are not living on benefits to obtain maintenance from the absent parent.

56. Mr. Patchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any plans to assist lone parents who are not living on benefits to obtain maintenance from the absent parent.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Absent parents have a clear legal responsibility to maintain their families wherever they can afford to. The Government have announced an inter-departmental review of the maintenance system to see what changes need to be made to the way in which maintenance is awarded and paid. A survey of the work in a sample of courts and DSS local offices is under way to provide full and up-to-date information as a basis for deciding on the best way forward, and this information will relate both to benefit and non-benefit cases. We are also examining systems in use in other countries to see what lessons can be learned from them. The Government aim to bring forward proposals later this year.

In the shorter term we have taken action to improve the payment and enforcement of maintenance under the current system. These measures will help lone parents who want to move from benefit to independence, since maintenance can provide valuable extra income to supplement earnings. Some two thirds of lone parents are dependent on income support. We have strengthened the basis on which local offices assess absent parents' ability to pay maintenance and have improved our instructions on interviewing lone parents about the identity of the absent father. We have also introduced a new clause to the current Social Security Bill to expand our ability to take action and address some of the problems lone parents have experienced with the current system. In particular the new clause will enable an order obtained by the Department to be transferred to the lone parent leaving benefit, removing the need for her to go to court to obtain a private maintenance order. DSS will also be able to enforce a lone parent's maintenance order for her when payments are not being made in full, if the lone parent is claiming income support for herself and her family. This will ensure that prompt action is taken in all cases and will reduce the chance of the absent parent getting into the habit of non-payment.

50. Mr. Barry Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest estimate he has as to the number of lone-parent families in receipt of income support; and how many also receive family credit.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

At May 1988 some 722,000 lone-parent families were in receipt of income support of whom some 6,000 were also in receipt of family credit. (The figures do not include prisoners' partners). At December 1989 there were 120,000 lone-parent families in receipt of family credit; information is not available on the number also in receipt of income support. There is a limited overlap between income support and family credit because an award of family credit lasts for six months.

Sources: Income Support Annual Statistical Inquiry 1988;

Family Credit Statistical System.