HC Deb 16 June 1977 vol 933 cc266-7W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployed are in receipt of (a) unemployment benefit only, (b) supplementary benefit only and (c) unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for the latest available date.

Mr. Orme

Of those persons registered as unemployed in February 1977, 447,000 were receiving unemployment benefit only, 510,000 were receiving supplementary benefit only, and 138,000 were receiving both unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) of those in receipt of unemployment benefit only, how many are eligible for supplementary benefit but not receiving it; and of these how many have (a) no dependants, (b) adult dependants only, (c) adult and child dependants and (d) child dependants only;

(2) how many unemployed, who are not in receipt of unemployment benefit, are eligible for supplementary benefit but are not receiving it; and of these, how many have (a) no dependants, (b) adult dependants only, (c) adult and child dependants and (d) child dependants only; and what is the total number of children involved;

(3) how many unemployed, who are not in receipt of unemployment benefit, are eligible for supplementary benefit but are not receiving it; and of these, how many have (a) no dependants, (b) adult dependants only, (c) adult and child dependants and (d) child dependants only; what is the total number of children involved; and what sources of income or support these adults and their dependants have.

Mr. Deakins

In 1975, according to the most recent estimates, about 130,000 unemployed people, more than half of whom had no dependants, were entitled to but not receiving supplementary benefit. Of these, about 90,000 were not receiving unemployment benefit. Estimates are based on a departmental analysis of Family Expenditure Survey data, and are subject to sampling error. Reliable estimates cannot be made of the numbers of their adult and child dependants and of their resources.