§ Miss Joan Lestorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest available figures for the numbers of one-parent families headed by men in receipt of supplementary benefit, by marital status in each category, the number of children involved, the average weekly benefit and average housing costs.
§ Mr. NewtonThe latest available information relates to December 1981 and is given in the following table:436W
Marital Status Single Separated Total Number on supplementary benefit 11,000 7,000 18,000 Number of children (all ages) 19,000 12,000 32,000 Average weekly benefit £44.67 £43.84 £44.36 Average housing cost added in assessment £14.07 £16.59 £15.01 Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry 1981.