§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what the status of women aged 16 to 18 years who are also parents will be under clause 4 of the Social Security Bill 1987.
§ Mr. Portillo[holding answer 6 November 1987]: Whilst clause 4 of the Social Security Bill 1987 removes general entitlement to income support from persons under the age 101W of 18 it provides that. in prescribed circumstances, certain persons of or over the age of 16 are to be entitled. We intend that regulation will provide that a lone parent responsible for a child who is a member of his/her household will be entitled (as now) to benefit. The regulations will provide that, for couples, under 18, with a child, income support will be payable for the family group subject to the normal conditions of availability 102W applying to one of the couple. Benefit will cease (as now) if the partner finds full-time work but will continue as a supplement to the training allowance if a YTS place is taken and the family income supplement is insufficient to meet its requirements by income support standards.
The status of women, under 18, who are also parents will not therefore be altered by the Bill.