HC Deb 25 July 1991 vol 195 cc886-7W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the estimated number of children in Wales whose families(a) receive incomes below supplementary benefit levels, (b) receive supplementary benefit, (c) receive income above supplementary benefit levels but below 110 per cent. of supplementary benefit, (d) income above 110 per cent. of supplementary benefit levels but below 120 per cent. and (e) income above 120 per cent. of supplementary benefit levels but below 140 per cent.; what were the equivalent figures for 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 and 1989; and what was the percentage change in each category between 1979 and 1989.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

The table gives the estimated numbers of children in Wales, aged under 16 years, whose families received supplementary benefit or income support. The other information requested is not available centrally.

Year Number
1979 57,000
1981 95,000
1983 110,000
11986 131,000
1987 123,000
1989 118,000
1990 125,000

Percentage change 1979 to 1989 107.

Source: Annual Statistical Enquiry, Department of Social Security.

1 Information for 1985 was not produced from this survey.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the latest figures showing gross weekly household income levels in Wales as per family type and the percentage of households earning(a) less than £60, (b) £60 to £100, (c) £100 to £225, (d) £225 to £325, (e) £325 to £425, and (f) over £425 per week.

Mr. David Hunt

Estimates are given in the following tables. The first table provides, for Wales, the average gross weekly household income, by household composition, over the two-year period 1988–89. The second table shows, for the same two-year period, the percentages of all households in Wales in each band of earnings.

These estimates, derived from the results of the 1988 and 1989 family expenditure surveys, may be subject to errors due to small sample sizes for some categories.

Composition of household1 Average gross weekly income (£)
One adult, no children 108.57
Two adults, no children 240.52
Three or more adults, no children 377.45
One adult, one or more children 103.81
Two adults, one or more children 332.46
Three or more adults, one or more children 420.28
All households 247.53
1 Children are defined as those under 16 years of age.
Average weekly household earnings1 Percentage of all households2
Less than £60 9.0
£60 and under £100 6.4
£100 and under £225 30.7
£225 and under £325 26.4
£325 and under £425 11.3
£425 and over 16.3
1 Only wages, salaries and earnings from self employment; other sources of incomes are excluded.
2 Excluding households with no earned income.

Source: Family Expenditure Surveys, Central Statistical Office.