§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of lone parents and their dependants in November 1979 and Novemberx 373W 1989, or the latest date possible, dependent on receipt of social security benefit or income support and family income or payment; and what was the total number of lone parents and their dependants on the same dates, showing in each case the percentage change since 1979.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe information requested is set out in the table. The latest information available is shown but the dates vary and the sets of figures are therefore not strictly comparable. The references to social security benefit and family income have been read as supplementary benefit and family income supplement/family credit respectively.
Percentage increase 1979 1988 Supplementary Benefit (now Income Support)1 Lone parents 318,000 722,000 127 Dependants 558,00 1,235,000 121 1979 1989 Family Income Supplement (now Family Credit)2 Lone parents 42,000 122,000 190 Dependants 73,000 191,000 162 1979 1986 Total of Lone Parent Families;3 Lone Parents 840,000 1,010,000 20 Dependants 1,400,000 1,600,000 14 1 Annual Statistical Enquiries—November 1979 and May 1988. Figures exclude prisoners' partners. 2 Ten per cent. sample of Family Income Supplement load and 5 per cent. sample of Family Credit load. 3 Office of Population, Censuses and Surveys—"Population Trends 45" (Autumn 1986) and "Population Trends 55" (Spring 1989).