HC Deb 22 July 1988 vol 137 cc880-1W
Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate for each year since 1979 the number of people in(a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales who had incomes (i) below, (ii) at and, (iii) up to 140 per cent. of the income support or supplementary benefit level on the latest basis and on a basis comparable with 1979: what percentage of the population they represented in each case; what is his estimate of the number of children living in such households; and what percentage of total children they represent in each;

(2) how many children for each year since 1979 in (a)Scotland, (b)England and (c)Wales were living in families (i) below, (ii) at and (iii) up to 140 per cent. of income support or supplementary benefit level, classified by employment status; whether they were in one or two-parent families on the latest basis, and on a basis comparable with 1979; what proportion of these children made up the total number of children; and whether they were in families of one, two, three, four or more children.

Mr. Portillo

I refer the hon. Member to my replies to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 27 May, at columns413–414, and to the hon. Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Cryer) on 21 June, at column 546.

Ms. Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing(a) individuals and (b) children below various percentiles of the income distribution by family status and economic status in 1981, 1983 and 1985 both before and after housing costs from "Households Below Average Income: A Statistical Analysis."

Mr. Portillo

[holding answer 22 June 1988]: A note has been put in the Library.