§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of (a) one parent-families and (b) two-parent families in receipt of
Great Britain Two-parent families One-parent families Year Number (000) Average Amount of Supplementary Benefit £
Average Housing Cost Added in Assessment £
Number (000) Average Amount of Supplementary Benefit £
Average Housing Cost Added in Assessment £
1976 N/A N/A N/A 323 24.07 6.72 1977* 227 29.88 7.91 326 27.20 7.62 1978 196 30.27 8.25 339 26.47 8.11 1979 166 35.46 9.40 322 30.57 9.36 1980 245 39.21 12.51 336 38.05 11.76 * Not comparable with previous years due to a change in the method of estimation. Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry November/December each year, on the day of the count.
I am unable to provide information on the average length of time in receipt of benefit, nor can I say what proportion of supplementary benefit in payment is for housing costs. I have, however, included in the table information on the average amount added into the assessment for housing costs.
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest figures for the number
One Parent Families in Great Britain (Thousands) Situation of woman Total Headed by a man Headed by a woman Single Widowed Divorced Prisoner's wife Separated Families 336 16 320 100 7 109 4 100 Children 582 31 552 131 10 208 9 193 Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry December 1980.
§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present number of recipients of supplementary benefit; what is the number of their dependants; and what is his estimate of the total number of people who have been dependent on supplementary benefit at some time during the most recent period of 12 months for which he has figures.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAt 2 December 1980, about 3.1 million people, with about 1.75 million dependants, were receiving supplementary benefit. I am unable to provide reliable estimates of the total number of people who will have been dependent on supplementary benefit in any 12 month period.