§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will bring-up-to-date in line with benefit changes due to take effect next November the reply given to the hon. Member for Norfolk North,Official Report, 4 December 1978, c.494, on the previous assumptions but assuming that work expenses for a lone parent are now £12 a week.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret there is as yet insufficient information available on which to base the figures requested by my hon. Friend. I shall let him have a further reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) one-parent families headed by a woman, (b) one-parent families headed by a man and (c) two-parent families, rely on (i) State benefits, (ii) earnings from employment, (iii) maintenance payments, and (iv) other items as their main source of income.
§ Mrs. Chalker,pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 24 July 1979; Vol. 971. c.208–10],gave the following answer:
671WThe table below provides the latest estimates available, in the form requested,
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BY MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME IN 1976 (i) State benefits (ii) Earnings (iii) Maintenance (iv) Other items Total number of families with head under pension age (a) One-parent families headed by a woman 350,000 230,000 [50,000] [30,000] 650,000 (b) One-parent families headed by a man [20,000] 70,000 — — 90,000 (c) Two-parent families 240,000 6,310,000 — [10,000] 6,560,000 Notes
1. These broad estimates are based on a DHSS analysis of income and other information recorded by respondents to the 1976 family expenditure survey. They are subject to statistical error; those in brackets are subject to very considerable error.
2. The estimates relate to the population living in private households in Great Britain. Families and other people living in institutions are not included in the family expenditure survey.
3. The figures are based on the normal employment of the head of the family. For example where the head of the family has been off work due to sickness or unemployment for less than three months at the time of the survey, he or she is classified according to the income received when working.
4. Because of rounding, the component parts do not always add up to the totals shown.
§ Mr. Raceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) one-parent families and (b) two-parent families are full-time employees, part-time employees, self-employed, and not employed.
§ Mrs. Chalker,pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 24 July 1979; Vol. 971. c.208],gave the following answer:
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BY OCCUPATION OF HEAD OF FAMILY IN 1976 Full-time employees Self-employed Unemployed and seeking work Others Total number of families with head under pension age (a) One parent … 250,000 [50,000] [20,000] 410,000 740,000 (b) Two parent … 5,680,000 550,000 170,000 150,000 6,560,000 Notes:
1. These broad estimates are based on a DHSS analysis of income and other information recorded by respondents to the 1976 family expenditure survey. They are subject to statistical error; those in brackets are subject to very considerable error.
2. The estimates relate only to the population living in private households in Great Britain. Families and other people living in institutions are not included in the family expenditure survey.
3. The figures are based on the normal employment of the head of the family. For example, where the head of the family has been off work due to sickness or unemployment for less than three months at the time of the survey, he or she is counted as being in work.
4. Lone parents who are not in employment are not required to register for work as a condition for receiving benefit. The numbers in the 'others' column reflect this.
5. Because of rounding, the component parts do not add up to the totals shown.