HC Deb 20 June 1996 vol 279 cc598-600W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many households, from data taken for the annual statistical inquiry, in 1993, 1994 and 1995, are having weekly deductions made from their supplementary benefit or income support as appropriate, for(a) electricity and (b) gas (i) of under £2 per week and (ii) in each £1 band above £2 per week up to £50 per week. [33620]

Mr. Roger Evans

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

Numbers have been given, as requested, in £1 bands for deductions in excess of £2 per week, but only to a deduction level of £23 for gas and £24 for electricity. All higher amounts are banded together as numbers are too small to break down accurately.

Cases with gas deductions
£ May 1993 May 1994 May 1995
All cases 204,000 231,000 214,000
Under 2.00 1,000 1,000 1,000
2.00–2.99 2,000 1,000 1,000
3.00–3.99 4,000 4,000 3,000
4.00–4.99 7,000 7,000 6,000
5.00–5.99 12,000 14,000 10,000
6.00–6.99 19,000 20,000 16,000
7.00–7.99 24,000 26,000 21,000
8.00–8.99 25,000 29,000 25,000
9.00–9.99 26,000 30,000 25,000
10.00–10.99 26,000 31,000 31,000
11.00–11.99 18,000 20,000 20,000
12.00–12.99 13,000 15,000 17,000
13.00–13.99 8,000 10,000 12,000
14.00–14.99 6,000 8,000 8,000
15.00–15.99 4,000 4,000 6,000
16.00–16.99 3,000 4,000 4,000
17.00–17.99 2,000 2,000 3,000
18.00–18.99 1,000 2,000 2,000
19.00–19.99 1,000 1,000 1,000
20.00–20.99 — 1,000 1,000
21.00–21.99 — 1,000 1,000
22.00–22.99 — 1,000 1,000
23.00–50.00 — 1,000 1,000

Notes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Due to rounding, the totals may not tally.

2. Sample size: 1 in 20.

3. "—" denotes nil or negligible.

4. No annual inquiries have been produced since 1993. Data are therefore taken from quarterly inquiries for 1994 and 1995.

5. There will be cases where deductions are made in respect of both gas and electricity. These cases will be counted in both the gas and electricity deduction tables.

Sources:

Income support annual inquiry 1993.

Income support quarterly inquiries May 1994 and May 1995.

Cases with electricity deductions
£ May 1993 May 1994 May 1995
All cases 76,000 74,000 71,000
Under 2.00 — — —
2.00–2.99 2,000 1,000 1,000
3.00–3.99 2,000 2,000 2,000
4.00–4.99 4,000 3,000 3,000
5.00–5.99 5,000 5,000 5,000
6.00–6.99 7,000 7,000 6,000
7.00–7.99 8,000 8,000 7,000
8.00–8.99 7,000 8,000 7,000
9.00–9.99 7,000 6,000 6,000
10.00–10.99 6,000 7,000 6,000
11.00–11.99 4,000 5,000 5,000
12.00–12.99 5,000 4,000 4,000
13.00–13.99 3,000 3,000 3,000
14.00–14.99 3,000 3,000 3,000
15.00–15.99 2,000 2,000 2,000
16.00–16.99 2,000 2,000 2,000
17.00–17.99 2,000 2,000 2,000
18.00–18.99 1,000 2,000 1,000
19.00–19.99 1,000 1,000 1,000
20.00–20.99 1,000 1,000 1,000
21.00–21.99 — 1,000 1,000
22.00–22.99 1,000 1,000 1,000
Cases with electricity deductions
£ May 1993 May 1994 May 1995
23.00–23.99 — 1,000 —
24.00–50.00 2,000 2,000 2,000

Notes:

1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand. Due to rounding, the totals may not tally.

2. Sample size: 1 in 20.

3. "—" denotes nil or negligible.

4. No annual inquiries have been produced since 1993. Data are therefore taken from quarterly inquiries for 1994 and 1995.

5. There will be cases where deductions are made in respect of both gas and electricity. These cases will be counted in both the gas and electricity deduction tables.

Sources:

Income support annual inquiry 1993.