HC Deb 23 July 1981 vol 9 cc218-9W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest available figures for the number of (a) one-parent families and (b) two-parent families who have income below supplementary benefit level, at supplementary level and within 110 per cent. of supplementary benefit; and how many children are involved in each category.

Mrs. Chalker

The information is shown in the following table. I hope that figures for 1979 will be available later in the year.

Estimated Numbers of One-Parent and Two-Parent Families—Under Pension Age—and Children at Various Income Levels in 1977

Great Britain
Income level Families Families with children Persons including children Children
Two parent One parent Total Two parent One parent Total Two parent One parent Total
Income at or above supplementary benefit level but within 10 per cent, of it, (excluding supplementary benefit recipients) 120,000 [20,000] 140,000 500,000 70,000 570,000 260,000 50,000 310,000

Notes on the Table

  1. (1) All figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
  2. (2) The estimates for those not receiving supplementary benefit are based on a Department of Health and Social Security analysis of incomes and other information given by respondents to the Family Expenditure Survey for 1977. The estimates are subject to statistical error. Those figures in square brackets are subject to very considerable proportionate statistical error. The estimates of those receiving supplementary benefit are derived from the Annual Statistical Enquiry of supplementary benefit claimants.
  3. (3) These estimates relate only to the population living in private households. families and persons in insitutions are not sampled in the Family Expenditure Survey.
  4. (4) Supplementary benefit level has been taken as the ordinary supplementary benefit scale rate(s), as appropriate. Income refers to net income, less housing costs and less travel-to-work expenses where appropriate.
  5. (5) The comparisons have been based on the family's normal income in the normal employment of the family head. For example, where the head of the family had been off work due to sickness or unemployment for less than three months at the time of the survey, the family's normal income when the head was at work was used in determining the level of income.
  6. (6) These estimates do not indicate unclaimed entitlement to supplementary benefit. Those who are in full-time work would not normally have entitlement to supplementary benefit.
  7. (7) No regard has been had to factors that can affect payment of supplementary benefit, such as capital and exceptional circumstances.