§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents will be(a) better off, (b) unaffected and (c) worse off in total as the overall result of the increases in child benefit and related benefits planned for November 1998 and April 1999, the proposed Working Families Tax Credit and the cuts in benefits for 486W lone parents already announced; and what is the average gain of those who are better off and the average loss of those who are worse off. [35854]
§ Mr. Field[holding answer 23 March 1998]: The information is set out in the table.
£ Better off No change Worse off Number 1,470,000 255,000 60,000 Average gain/loss 6.30 0 -2 Notes:
1. Numbers rounded to the nearest 5,000.
2. Information from 1995–96 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1998–99 prices, earnings and benefit levels. Budget policy changes to Married Couples Allowance and National Insurance have been excluded.
3. Announced lone parent policy changes due to be implemented in April 1999 have been included in the 1998–99 benefit system at appropriate rates.
4. Lone Parent caseloads affected by the removal of entitlement to lone parent rates for new cases are adjusted to be consistent with forecasts for the end of the financial year 1998–99.