§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the reasons for the control groups for the New Deal for lone parents starting in September. [18631]
§ Mr. Keith Bradley[holding answer 2 December 1997]: The control groups for the New Deal for Lone Parents did not start in September.
Data for control areas which are comparable to the pilot areas have been collected since the New Deal for Lone 328W Parents began in July 1997, and will be used in the full evaluation of the scheme in due course.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents in the United Kingdom are currently(a) receiving income support and (b) receiving child benefit. [19146]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
We are able to provide information for Great Britain only.
As at February 1997, there are 1,020,000 Lone Parents in receipt of Income Support. The Department estimates that in 1996–97 there were about 1.7 million lone parents in Great Britain. Their rate of take-up of Child Benefit has not been separately measured, but within the whole population take-up has been estimated at about 99 per cent.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many children in the United Kingdom are(a) under the age of five years and (b) five-years-old or over, in lone parent families. [19040]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyFor 1995–96, it is estimated that in Great Britain, 0.8 million children under the age of five years and 2.0 million children aged five-years-old or over were living in lone parent families. A child is defined as an individual aged under 16 or an unmarried 16 to 18 year old on a course up to and including "A" level standard (or up to and including "Highers" in Scotland). A lone parent family is a non-pensioner single adult aged 16 or over with children.
Note:
The 1995–96 financial year is the latest period for which data are available.Source:
The data are taken from Households Below Average Income (HBAI) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS).
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated total reduction in the cost of support for lone parents as a result of the changes proposed in the Social Security Bill for 1998–99 and each of the four subsequent years. [19041]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.
The estimated net savings from the measure contained in the Social Security Bill to removal entitlement to the lone parent rate of Child Benefit for new cases are in the table:
1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Savings £5 million £15 million £25 million
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total cost of support for lone parents 329W under the New Deal for 1998–99 and each of the four subsequent years. [19042]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe anticipated costs of the New Deal for Lone Parents for 1998–99 are £30 million. Funding is available only for the next three years as follows:
- 1999–2000: £40 million
- 2000–01: £39 million
- 2001–02: £41 million.
The total will comprise £150 million over the life of the Parliament. In addition, there will be £50 million to improve financial help with the cost of child care in the In-Work benefits.
As announced in the Green Budget on 25 November Lone Parents making a new claim for Income Support from April 1998 will be offered the help to work that is provided by the New Deal for Lone Parents.
An extra £25 million has been allocated from October 1998 to the New Deal for Lone Parents for those whose youngest child is under 5 and who are seeking support from the New Deal.