HC Deb 16 December 2002 vol 396 cc615-7W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pension how many people claimed(a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) child-related benefits, (c) winter fuel payments and (d) sickness related benefits in (i) Lancashire and (ii) the North West of England in each of the last five years. [82147]

Malcolm Wicks

The available information is in the tables. Many benefit recipients fall within more than one category and there is therefore a degree of overlap between the figures.

Number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance
Lancashire North West region
May 1998 18,536 164,925
May 1999 18,242 155,903
May 2000 16,375 139,888
May 2001 14,955 126,094
May 2002 13,679 119,224

Notes:

1. Figures are unrounded.

2. Figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Source:

Jobseeker's Allowance Computer System, 100 per cent. claimant count.

Number of families receiving child benefit
Lancashire North West region
August 1999 141,535 872,645
August 2000 141,680 860,675
August 2001 142,150 866,530
August 2002 141,780 863,173

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

2. Figures by county and region are not available prior to 1999.

Source:

Child Benefit Computer System, 100 per cent. claimant count.

Number of families on key benefits
Lancashire North West region
May 1998 27,100 218,400
May 1999 26,500 208,900
May 2000 25,900 200,600
May 2001 24,800 194,300
May 2002 24,100 188,500

Notes:

1. Key benefits are income support and jobseeker's allowance with a child premium, and incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance with a child dependency increase.

2. Child premia and child dependency increases are paid for children under 16 and young adult dependants aged 16–18 for whom child benefit is payable.

Source:

DWP Information Centre Client Group Analysis, 5 per cent. statistical samples.

Winter fuel payment recipients
Lancashire North West region
Winter 1999–2000 210,000 1,207,400
Winter 2000–01 233,600 1,335,900
Winter 2001–02 233,000 1,336,500

Notes:

Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.

Source:

Winter Fuel Payment Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service, 100 per cent. data.

Number of people claiming sickness related benefits
Lancashire North West region
May 1998 63,300 448,400
May 1999 62,600 444,100
May 2000 62,600 442,400
May 2001 65,000 450,100
May 2002 65,300 448,000

Notes:

1. Sickness related benefits are incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance and income support with a disability premium.

2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Source:

DWP Information Centre Client Group Analysis, 5 per cent. statistical samples.