One-parent Benefit

HC Deb 03 April 1996 vol 275 c357W

Ms Jowell

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what savings his Department expects to make by freezing one-parent benefit and lone-parent premium. [22728]

Mr. Andrew Mitchell

Some £15 million per year from 1996–97.

Ms Jowell

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his time scale for the phasing out of one-parent benefit and lone-parent premium. [22725]

Mr. Mitchell

Over time, the intention is to narrow the existing gap between benefits which go to lone parents and those which go to couples. Decisions on the pace and time scale of this process will be taken from year to year. Draft regulations to implement our proposals to restructure family benefits have been referred to the Social Security Advisory Committee. Subject to completion of the statutory consultation procedures and to Parliamentary approval, the draft regulations are expected to be laid in May/June and to come into force in April 1997.