§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of single-parent families drawing supplementary benefit for the latest available date; and what is the proportion of these claimants who have been drawing supplementary benefit for(a) more than five years but less than 10 years, and (b) more than 10 years.
§ Mr. PortilloThe most recent information available comes from the 1987 annual statistical inquiry. The number of lone-parent families in receipt of supplementary benefit was 629,000 in May 1987; 25 per cent. of these families had been in receipt of benefit for more than five years. Statistics are not kept on the number of lone-parent families who draw benefit for 10 years or more.