§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the numbers (a) eligible and (b) claiming family income supplement for each year since the scheme's inception; and if he will present the numbers claiming as a percentage of those eligible.
§ Mr. PrenticeI regret that information is not available in the form requested, but the hon. Member may find it helpful to refer to tables 32.05 and 32.16 in "Social Security Statistics 1977", published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, a copy of which is in the Library. Table 32.05 shows with additional detail the total numbers of claims for family income supplement processed up to 1977. The number processed in 1978 was 160,449. Table 32.16 gives an estimate of FIS take-up in 1975, which remains the most recent reliable estimate of take-up currently available. Note (b) to table 32.16 gives estimates of FIS take-up from 1972 on
114Wnumber of social security claims received at these offices in that year and (e) the total amount of money paid out in social security benefits during that year.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe information requested, in so far as it is available, is as follows:
wards. It is hoped that the family finances survey, now in progress, will yield better information on take-up, based on a much bigger sample of low-income families with children than is available from the family expenditure survey the source of table 32.16.