§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each county council, and for Wales, the latest numbers of those of working age estimated to be dependent on benefits, and comparative figures for the United Kingdom. [8218]
§ Mr. Keith Bradley[holding answer 15 July 1997]: I have been asked to reply.
Our objectives are to promote work incentives, to strengthen community and family life, and to reduce poverty and welfare dependency.
The information requested is not available. However, the number in receipt of income support, the safety net benefit of last resort in Great Britain, Wales and counties in Wales is shown in the table:
Income support claimants aged under 60 All Claimants Partners Great Britain 4,524,000 3,879,000 644,000 Wales 249,000 211,000 38,000 Clwyd 30,000 26,000 4,000 Dyfed 28,000 23,000 5,000 Gwent 39,000 33,000 6,000 Gwynedd 20,000 16,000 3,000 Mid Glamorgan 54,000 45,000 9,000 Powys 5,000 4,000 1,000 South Glamorgan 37,000 33,000 4,000 West Glamorgan 35,000 30,000 5,000 Notes:
1. For the analysis, working age has been defined as below the age of 60.
2. If the claimant is of working age then the partner, if present, is counted regardless of their age.
3. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and as such totals may not tally.
4. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and as such are subject to a degree of sampling error.
5. Figures include unemployed people who received income support at August 1996 (pre-dating the introduction of jobseeker's allowance in October 1996).
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, November 1995.