Child Benefit (Hansard, 29 July 1988)

§ Mr. Gordon Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give the number of families in receipt of child benefit and the average percentage of family income for 1979 and 1988–89 derived from child benefit for the(a) bottom 10 per cent., (b) bottom 30 per cent., (c) bottom 50 per cent, and (d) top 50 per cent, of families.

§ Mr. Scott
[holding answer 14 July 1988]: The information is as follows: 828W

Percentage contribution of child benefit to the incomes of households with children below various percentiles of the whole population

Percentile of the income distribution

Below 10 Below 30 Below 50 Above 50

per cent. per cent. per cent. per cent.

1979 19 13 10 5

1985 18 14 11 4

Notes to table

1. The income measure used is the same in all respects as that used in "Households Below Average Income: A Statistical Analysis, 1981–85" and is before housing costs.

2. The percentile points in the table are for the whole population, but the analysis is for households with children only A corresponding analysis demonstrating the percentage contribution of child benefit to the incomes of all individuals below the percentile points shown can be found in HBA1, table G on page 24 of the tables.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing the latest estimated distribution of children qualifying for child benefit by parental status and by range of parental income.

§ Mr. Scott
[holding answer 27 July 1988]: Information about the incomes of families receiving child benefit is not routinely collected. The following estimates of the distribution of children by gross parental income in 1988–89 are therefore made on the basis of sample survey data which are subject to normal sampling and response variation. "Parental status" has been interpreted to mean economic status.

Number of children by gross family income

Thousands

Parental (economic) status

Band of gross family income Full-lime work¹ Unemployed² Other³ Total

Under £5,000 30 210 540 780

£5–10,000 1,600 870 880 3,350

£10–15,000 3,140 —⁴ 60 3,210

£15–20,000 2,250 —⁴ —⁴ 2,280

£20–25,000 1,140 —⁴ —⁴ 1,150

£25,000–50,000 1,170 —⁴ —⁴ 1,180

Above £50,000 180 —⁴ —⁴ 180

9,510 1,100 1,501 12,120

Notes:
(1) With the additions noted below, this answer is provided on the same basis as set out in my reply of 7 June to my hon. Friend the Member for Pembroke (Mr. Bennett) at columns 371–72.
(2) Economic status categories are based on the FES:
¹ Full-time work: either head or spouse in full-time work (over 24 hours per week).
² Unemployed: either head or spouse unemployed and neither in full-time work. The definition of unemployment is self-reported in the FES and does not correspond to receipt of an unemployment related benefit.
³ Other: includes part-time workers, economically inactive/one-parents, sick and disabled and early retired.
⁴ sample numbers are too small to provide a detailed breakdown.

Percentage contribution of child benefit to the incomes of households with children below various percentiles of the whole population
	Percentile of the income distribution
	Below 10	Below 30	Below 50	Above 50
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
1979	19	13	10	5
1985	18	14	11	4
Notes to table
1. The income measure used is the same in all respects as that used in "Households Below Average Income: A Statistical Analysis, 1981–85" and is before housing costs.
2. The percentile points in the table are for the whole population, but the analysis is for households with children only A corresponding analysis demonstrating the percentage contribution of child benefit to the incomes of all individuals below the percentile points shown can be found in HBA1, table G on page 24 of the tables.

Number of children by gross family income
Thousands
	Parental (economic) status
Band of gross family income	Full-lime work¹	Unemployed²	Other³	Total
Under £5,000	30	210	540	780
£5–10,000	1,600	870	880	3,350
£10–15,000	3,140	—⁴	60	3,210
£15–20,000	2,250	—⁴	—⁴	2,280
£20–25,000	1,140	—⁴	—⁴	1,150
£25,000–50,000	1,170	—⁴	—⁴	1,180
Above £50,000	180	—⁴	—⁴	180
	9,510	1,100	1,501	12,120