§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of families (a) eligible for, and (b) drawing family income supplement, in each of December 1978, 1979 and 1980 ; and approximately what proportion was or will be liable to pay income tax.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that the estimates of the numbers eligible for family income supplement—FIS—requested by my hon. Friend are not available. The family finances survey, which was carried out in 1978–9, is, however, expected to yield estimates of the proportionate take-ups of FIS at that time. I hope this information will be available by the end of this year.
The estimated numbers of families receiving FIS were about 81,000 in both December 1978 and December 1979. The average number of beneficiaries in the 61W year following the uprating in November 1980 is expected to be about 95,000, but I cannot give a more precise estimate for December 1980.
Liability for income tax is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I understand, however, that' information about the tax position of families receiving FIS is available only in the form and to the extent of the estimates given by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Treasury, in reply to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 16 April 1980.—[Vol. 982, c. 659–60.]