§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of additional one-parent families who would qualify for family income supplement if the minimum hours to be worked were reduced from 30 to 20 for one-parent families; and what is his estimate of the additional cost.
§ Mr. OrmeIt is estimated that an additional 15,000 one-parent families would immediately qualify for family income supplement (FIS) at a net cost of about £3¼ million in a full year. These estimates, based on a Department of Health and Social Security analysis of information recorded by respondents in the Family Expenditure Survey, take account only of one-parent families already working between 20 and 30 hours per week. It is not known how many more families might qualify for FIS by increasing their present hours of work to a minimum of 20. As my hon. Friend will be aware, the Government are in sympathy with the Finer Joint Action Committee's proposal that the minimum hours should be reduced to 24 for one-parent families and this will be considered when additional resources become available.