HC Deb 19 December 1995 vol 268 cc1118-9W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children in families were(a) dependent on income support, and (b) in receipt of family credit, by region, in each of the last five years. [4921]

Mr. Roger Evans

The available information is set out in the tables. No breakdown by Government standard statistical region is available in any year for family credit or for income support in 1990. Regional data for income support in 1995 are not yet available.

Number of children in families receiving income support 1990–95
Number of Children
May May May May May February
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Great Britain 2,045 2,368 2,703 2,966 2,980 2,977
South East (excluding London) — 315 380 442 434 —
London (Inner and Outer) — 357 445 491 508 —
North — 165 173 182 184 —
Wales — 131 146 163 165 —
Scotland — 239 251 251 248 —
Yorks and Humberside — 239 255 268 170 —
East Midlands — 143 166 182 190 —
East Anglia — 51 67 80 80 —
South West — 149 174 195 191 —
West Midlands — 244 278 312 310 —
North West — 336 368 402 400 —

Number of children in families receiving family credit 1990–1995
Thousands
Number of children in Great Britain
May 1990 669
May 1991 736
May 1992 828
May 1993 992
May 1994 1,123
February 1995 1,205

Notes:

  1. 1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
  2. 2. Regions are GSS Standard Statistical Regions.
  3. 3. Children are defined as aged 15 or under.

Source:

Income support annual statistical inquiries 1990–1993.

Year Rent allowance Rent rebate
Recipients (000) Expenditure (£ million) Recipients (000) Expenditure (£ million)
1991–92 1.151 2,404 2,966 3,971
1992–93 1,346 3,238 3,034 4,555
1993–94 1,549 4,173 3,053 5,020
1994–95 1,686 4,908 3.006 5,345

  1. 1. Figures given for recipients relate to benefit units which may be a single person or a couple.
  2. 2. Figures for recipients are an average of 100 per cent. caseload counts taken at the end of May, August. November and February of each year.
  3. 3. Expenditure figures for 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94 are outturn. 1994–95 is estimated outturn.