§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many unemployed men receiving supplementary benefit have children under the age of 16 years; what is the total number of children in their families; and if he will give comparable figures for the last 10 years.
§ Mrs. Chalker[pursuant to her reply, 28 February 1980, c. 712]: The information is as follows: 138W
UNEMPLOYED MEN RECEIVING SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT WITH CHILDREN UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE*(THOUSANDS) Date Number of cases Great Britain Number of children November 1968† 92 252 November 1969† 94 257 November 1970† 91 244 November 1971† 150 399 November 1972 138 374 November 1973 83 223 November 1974 104 276 December 1975 178 446 December 1976‡ 205 492 November 1977§ 200 486 November 1978 170 406 November 1979 Not yet available Notes: * Data from supplementary benefits annual statistical inquiry. † From November 1968 to November 1971 the figures include a small number of unemployed females with dependent children. ‡ Approximation. § Figures from November 1977 onwards not directly comparable with earlier years due to a change in the method of estimation.