§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of Scottish children(a) in total and (b) as a percentage dependent on supplementary benefit and income support in each year since 1978.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardInformation for 1985 and 1990 is unavailable. The information for the years 1978–84 and 1986–89 is in the table.
Year Number of children under 16 in Scotland1 Percentage of children under 16 dependent on supplementary benefit 1 income support2 per cent. 1978 1,377,000 9 1979 1,347,000 8 1980 1,316,000 9 1981 1,284,000 12 1982 1,251,000 15 1983 1,195,000 15 1984 1,168,000 17 1986 1,145,000 19 1987 1,125,000 20 1988 1,105,000 21 1989 1,021,000 22 Sources:
1 Office of Population, Census and Surveys census returns.
2 Annual Statistical inquiry.