HC Deb 23 January 1996 vol 270 cc217-8W
Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many single parents are currently claiming benefits in the areas covered by the Peterlee and Seaham benefit offices; [9502]

(2) how many people in the areas covered by the Seaham and Peterlee offices are in receipt of (a) state retirement pension, (b) incapacity benefit (c) income support, (d) family credit and (e) disability living allowance, broken down into its various components. [9500]

Mr. Roger Evans

This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will reply to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Cummings, dated 22 January 1996: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how many single parents are currently claiming benefits and how many people are in receipt of (a) State Retirement Pension (RP), (b) Incapacity Benefit (IB), (c) Income Support (IS), (d) Family Credit (FC) and (e) Disability Living Allowance (DLA), broken down into its various components, in the areas covered by the Peterlee and Seaham benefit offices. The information requested is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is shown at Annexe A. The number of people claiming IS and DLA for Peterlee and Seaham could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The North Durham District includes the areas of Durham, Chester-le-street, Peterlee, Seaham and Stanley. The number of single parents currently in receipt of IS in the North Durham District is 6,258. Details of claims from single parents to other benefits is not available. The total number of people receiving IS in the District is 39,116, at November 1995. I hope you find this reply helpful