§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women in couples claiming supplementary benefit/income support have been the claimant in each year since 1983; and if he will provide the figures as a proportion of all couples on supplementary benefit/income support for each year.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe Information requested is given in the table:
Year Number of female claimants All couple cases Proportion 1983 500 1,020,600 1 in 2,041 1984 12,140 1,086,300 1 in 90 1986 20,700 1,126,700 1 in 54 1987 25,300 1,073,600 1 in 42 1988 24,600 841,000 1 in 34 1989 25,400 723,800 1 in 28 1990 34,600 691,200 1 in 20 Note: No information is available for 1985. The Annual Statistical Enquiry for that year was deferred until 1986.
Source: Supplementary Benefit/Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiries.