§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing the numbers and percentages of(a) families, (b) single people without children and (c) all claimants receiving one or more means-tested benefit in 1979 and 1992, giving figures separately for claimants and dependants.
591W
§ Mr. ScottThe information cannot be provided in the precise form requested. Separate figures for dependants are not included as they are not available for all the income-related benefits. Comparable information on the numbers receiving help through income-related rent and rates rebate schemes in 1979 is not available.
Numbers receiving one or more income-related benefit Thousands Group 19791 Percentage of total population2 19923 Percentage of total population2 Families 550 8 2,080 30 Single without children 1,977 — 5,179 39 All claimants 2,928 — 8,565 30 1In 1979 the only income-related social security benefits were supplementary benefit and family income supplement. Supplementary benefit included additions in respect of rent and rates. 2 The number of families receiving benefits is shown as a percentage of the total number of child benefit recipients in each year. For 1992 the number of single people without children receiving benefits is shown w a percentage of the total number of single people without children in the population. The number of all benefit claiments is shown as a percentage of the total number of adult couples and single people in the population. Population estimates for single people without children and all families are not available for 1979. 3 Benefits included are income support, family credit, housing benefit and community charge benefit.