HC Deb 28 April 1993 vol 223 c457W
Mr. Dobson

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people receiving benefits other than unemployment benefit in each year since 1979 were unemployed and under retirement age.

Mr. Burt

The benefits payable to unemployed people under retirement age are income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit, and social fund grants and loans. The table shows the number of income support recipients who are unemployed and not in receipt of unemployment benefit for each year for which figures are available. Income support recipients may also be in receipt of housing benefit, community charge benefit and/or social fund grants or loans.

The number of unemployed people who were not in receipt of income support or unemployment benefit, but who received housing benefit, community charge benefit or social fund grants or loans is not available.

Number of recipients of income support not in receipt of unemployment benefit
(thousands)
Number
1979 486
1980 678
1981 1,084
1982 1,437
1983 1,621
1984 1,750
1986 1,901
1987 1,793
1988 1,377
1989 1,118
1990 1,019
1991 1,244

Notes:

Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

Due to industrial action there was no count in 1985.