§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many 16 and 17-year-olds were in receipt of benefit in each month since January 1988.
§ Mr. BurtThe information requested is not held centrally. However, the table shows the numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds in receipt of income support. This includes both those who are paid under the severe hardship provision and those who have automatic entitlement subject to the normal rules (eg lone parents).
628Wmost recent staff in post figures. At Table 2 I have provided details of the numbers of people receiving benefit in each District. However, it should be noted that a person may be in receipt of more than one benefit at any one time and may therefore appear in these figures more than once.
These tables have been placed in the Library as one document under the heading Department of Social Security, Benefits Agency, Staff in Post and Numbers Receiving Benefit by Benefits Agency District in England.
I hope you find this information helpful.
In addition, 16 and 17-year-olds may be entitled to other benefits including housing benefit, severe disability allowance, child benefit and others.
Number of 16 and 17-year-olds in receipt of income support Aged 16 Aged 17 Total May 1988 32,000 69,000 101,000 May 1989 5,000 13,000 18,000 May 1990 4,000 17,000 21,000 May 1991 6,000 16,000 22,000 May 1992 8,000 22,000 30,000 May 1993 9000 26,000 35,000 August 1993 9,000 27,000 36,000 Notes:
1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. Figures have been taken from the Annual Statistical Enquiries from 1988–1992 and from the Quarterly Enquiries of May and August 1993.