HC Deb 31 January 1980 vol 977 cc746-7W
Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of children in families of (a) one child, (b) two children, (c) three children and (d) four or more children whose family income was (i) below the supplementary benefit level, (ii) at the supplementary benefit level and (iii) not more than 10 per cent. above the supplementary benefit level; and if he will also classify these data according to whether

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF CHILDREN IN FAMILIES AT VARIOUS INCOME LEVELS IN 1977
Numbers of children in families with incomes
Number of children in the family below supplementary benefit level at supplementary benefit level above supplementary benefit level but within 110 per cent. of that level
One … … … … … … 70,000 200,000 40,000
Two … … … … … 140,000 270,000 110,000
Three … … … … … 90,000 230,000 50,000
Four or more … … … … 120,000 280,000 100,000
Totals … … … … 420,000 980,000 310,000
Notes on the Table:
1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000. Consequently the sum of the component parts may not equal the total.
2. The estimates for those not receiving supplementary benefit are based on the Department of Health and Social Security analysis of incomes and other information recorded by respondents to the family expenditure survey for 1977. The estimates for those receiving supplementary benefit are derived from the "Annual Statistical Enquiry of Supplementary Benefit Claimants".
3. All these estimates, which are subject to statistical error, relate only to the population living in private households.
4. The supplementary benefit level is taken as being the supplementary benefit scale rate(s) appropriate to the family, using the long-term rates for pensioners only. Income refers to net income, less net housing costs, less travel to work expenses, as appropriate.
5. The comparison is based on the family's normal income in the normal employment of the head of the family. For example, where the family head had been sick or unemployed for less than three months at the time of the survey, the family's normal income when the head was at work has been used in determining the level of income.
6. The estimates for numbers of families with income below supplementary benefit level do not indicate unclaimed entitlement to supplementary benefit. For example, those who are in full-time work or undertaking full-time further education would not normally have entitlement to supplementary benefit. For others not precluded from claiming, no regard is had in these estimates to factors such as disregarded income, treatment of capital, or exceptional circumstances additions, each of which can affect payment of supplementary benefit.