HC Deb 20 March 1990 vol 169 c595W
Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the numbers and percentages of(a) women and (b) men in receipt of one-parent benefit (i) in 1979 and (ii) in 1989.

2. Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Before 1981 one-parent benefit was known as child benefit increase. The information requested is set out in the table.

Child Benefit Increase/One Parent Benefit: Male and Female Claimants
Women Men
Number Per cent. Number Per cent. Total
1979 334,000 87 50,000 13 384,000
1989 637,000 91 60,000 9 698,000

Notes:

1. Figures are for 31 December of each year and are rounded.

Source Departmental records.