§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many one-parent families have applied for and been awarded Department of Social Security financial help during each of the last five years as a result of marriage break-up; and what is the total cost to the Department of Social Security of maintaining such families.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe information requested is available only for supplementary benefit/income support and is set out in the table:
Supplementary Benefit/Income Support paid to lone parents who are divorced or separated: numbers and expenditure Annual equivalent Year Number of lone Parent claimants Cash (£ million) Real terms ( 1988–89 prices (£ million) 1983 304,000 606 837 1984 319,000 680 895 1986 364,000 833 1,041 1987 381,000 902 1,035 1988 400,000 1,072 1,072 Notes:
- 1. Source: Annual Statistical Enquiries for the relevant years. There was no Enquiry in 1985.
787 - 2. Information is for divorced and separated lone parents, men and women.
- 3. Annual Equivalent: This is derived from the average amounts in payment to these categories of lone parents at the time of the Enquiries.