HC Deb 21 April 1993 vol 223 cc135-6W
Mr. Knox

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 MarchOfficial Report, column 420, showing the numbers and percentages of families receiving one or more means-tested benefit in 1979 and 1991, what are the comparable figures for single people without children; and whether the percentages in his reply refer to supplementary benefit/income support caseload or the specified demogrant groups.

Mr. Burt

Information in percentage terms cannot be given as there are no figures available for the total population of single people without children. Other information is in the table.

Single people without children Recipients (000's)
Benefit 1979 1991
Supplementary Benefit (SB)/Income Support (IS) including those with Housing Benefit (HB) and Community Charge Benefit (CCB);. 1,970 2,826
Housing Benefit including those with CCB but not those with IS. 1,156
Community Charge Benefit not including those with IS or HB. 881
All single people without children in receipt of one or more means-tested benefit. 1,970 4,863

Notes:

1. All figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

2. There are no overlaps between the categories of recipients shown.

3. Housing Benefit and Community Charge did not exist in 1979.

Source:

Supplementary Benefits—Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1979.

Income Support—Annual Statistical Enquiry May 1991.

Housing Benefit/Community Charge Benefit—Management Information System (Annual 1 per cent. sample) May 1991.