HC Deb 12 December 1995 vol 268 cc627-8W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are paid allowances as single parents; what sum of money is involved; and if he will make a statement.[3941]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

Total expenditure on lone parents in 1994–95 is estimated to be £9.1 billion and is expected to reach £9.4 billion in 1995–96.

The numbers of lone parents receiving income support, family credit and one-parent benefit are shown in the table:

Benefit: Case load at May 1994:
Income support 1,039,000
One-parent benefit 911,000
Family credit 236,000

Notes:

  1. 1. Expenditure includes spending on income-related benefits, child benefit, one-parent benefit, and maternity benefit.
  2. 2. For income support single parents have been defined as those persons in receipt of the lone parent premium. For family credit the numbers are single persons with dependants.
  3. 3. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
  4. 4. Some people may receive more than one of the named benefits.

Source:

Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry May 1994.

Family credit statistics 5 per cent. sample of awards..

Expenditure figure consistent with the departmental report.