HC Deb 13 December 1993 vol 234 cc496-7W
Ms Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a table showing the number of families receiving family credit per week of(a) less than £100, (b) between £100 and £120, (c) between £120 and £140, (d) between £140 and £150, (e) between £150 and £160, (f) between £160 and £180, (g) between £180 and £200, (h) between £200 and £250 and (i) over £300; and in each category how many he expects will gain (i) nothing, (ii) between £0 and £10, (iii) between £10 and £20 and (iv) between £20 and £28 as a result of the proposed changes announced in the Budget statement relating to family credit.

Mr. Burt

The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table:

Family credit recipients
All cases
Total 486,720
Under £100 480,520
£100 to £119.99 4,620
£120 to £139.99 1,300
£140 to £149.99 180
£150 to £159.99 80
£160 to £179.99 20

Note: Awards of Family Credit current at 30 April 1993, analysed by amount of Family Credit in payment. Based on 5 per cent. sample of awards.

Ms Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the number of families receiving family credit which he expects will gain(a) nothing, (b) between £0 and £10, (c) between £10 and £20 and (d) between £20 and £28 as a result of the proposed changes announced in the Budget statement relating to family credit;

(2) how many families he expects to benefit from the change in rules announced in the Budget statement relating to family credit.

(3) how many more families he expects will be entitled to family credit as a result of the change in rules announced in the Budget statement relating to family credit; and how many of these he expects to gain (a) the full £28 and (b) less than £28.

Mr. Burt

We estimate that the assistance with child care costs will give substantial help to 150,000 families. A total of 80,000 families already on family credit will benefit and 20,000 at present just outside the family credit scheme will become entitled. We estimate that 50,000 families presently on income support will be enabled to take up work as a result of the change.

The amount of increase in the family credit award for those already receiving the benefit will be related to the actual child care costs up to a maximum of £40 which they incur.

Ms Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many families receiving family credit have(a) two parents with (i) one child, (ii) two children, (iii) three children and (iv) four children or more and (b) one parent with (i) one child, (ii) two children, (iii) three children and (iv) four children or more; and if he will estimate how many in each category will gain (1) nothing, (2) between £0 to £10, (3) between £10 to £20 and (4) between £20 to £28 as a result of the proposed changes to family credit announced in the Budget.

Mr. Burt

The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is in the table:

Family credit recipients
Couples Singles All cases
With one child 72,220 106,240 178,460
With two children 106,700 71,840 178,540
With three children 64,040 21,460 85,500
With four or more children 37,880 6,340 44,220
Total 280,840 205,880 486,720

Note: Awards of family credit current at 30 April 1993, analysed by family size and type. Based on 5 per cent. sample of awards.