§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is(a) the number of new claims for income support nationally over the latest quarter for which figures are available and (b) the take-up of supplementary benefit for the corresponding quarter in 1987 for each of the following groups: (i) pensioners, (ii) single parents and (iii) those incapable of work through illness and disability.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIt is not possible to give a breakdown by the precise groups that the hon. Member has requested. Supplementary benefit and income support are broken down into three categories—pensioners, the unemployed and others. The last category will be predominantly those incapable of work through illness and disability and lone parents. The number of claims for "pensioners and others" for the periods requested is:
748W
Income support: Claims for three calendar months ending 30 September 1988 Number Pensioners 79,193 Others 195,669
Supplementary benefit: Claims for three four-weekly period sending 22 September 1987 Number Pensioners 84,241 Others 236,481 Note: From April this year the counting of statistics changed from a four-weekly to a monthly collection. The 1987 figures cover the period 1 July to 22 September 1987, whereas the 1988 figures cover the period 1 July to 30 September 1988.