§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead on 31 January, Official Report, column 746–48, if he will separate the information contained therein to show how many 229W children in each category are in (a) one-parent families and (b) two-parent families.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe tables below give theestimated numbers of children in families at various income levels in 1977
Numbers of children in one-parent families with incomes Number of children in the one-parent family below supplementary benefit level at supplementary benefit level above supplementary benefit level but within 110 per cent of that level 1 150,000 2 190,000 3 130,000 4 or more 110,000 Totals 70,000 590,000 [50,000]
Numbers of children in two-parent families with incomes Number of children in the two-parent family below supplementary benefit level at supplementary benefit level above supplementary benefit level but within 110 per cent of that level 1 [50,000] 40,000 [40,000] 2 120,000 90,000 100,000 3 70,000 100,000 [30,000] 4 or more 110,000 160,000 80,000 Totals 350,000 390,000 260,000 Notes to 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 Inquiry of Supplementary Benefit Claimants".
3. All these estimates relate only to the population living in private households. The estimates are subject to statistical error and those figures in square brackets are subject to very considerable proportionate statistical error.
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.