HC Deb 21 April 1989 vol 151 cc337-8W
Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) of 10 November,Official Report, column 294, what was the total number of lone parents and their dependants in November 1979 and November 1988 (a) dependent on receipt of income support or family income, and (b) the total number of lone parents and their dependants on the same dates, showing in each case, the percentage change since 1979.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The latest date for which all the information requested is available is 1986 and this is reflected in the table. The reference to family income has been understood to mean family income supplement.

1979 1986 Percentage increase
Supplementary benefit (now Income Support)1
Lone parents 318.000 602,000 89
Dependants 558,000 996.000 78
Family income supplement (now Family Credit)2
Lone parents 42,000 91.000 117
Dependants 73,000 142,000 95
Total of lone parent families3
Lone parents 840,000 1,010,000 20
Dependants 1.400,000 1,600,000 14
1 Annual Statistical Enquiries—November 1979 and February 1986.
2 10 per cent, sample of Family Income Supplement load.
3 Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys—"Population Trends 45" (Autumn 1986) and "Population Trends 55" (Spring 1989).

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