HC Deb 16 December 1997 vol 303 cc138-40W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the numbers of lone parents who are owner occupiers; and how many such lone parents are in receipt of mortgage interest support. [18085]

Mr. Bradley

The estimated number of lone parents who are owner occupiers is 520,000. The latest available information shows that 97,000 lone parents are in receipt of mortgage interest payments through the benefit system.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of lone parent premium there were in each year since 1990; and how many new claims for lone parent premium were made in each year. [18083]

Mr. Bradley

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

Lone parent premium recipients in Great Britain May 1990 to February 1997
000s
Enquiry One or more listedbenefit Income support Income-basedJobseeker'sAllowance HousingBenefit/Council TaxBenefit
May 1990 900 790 n/a 110
May 1991 980 870 n/a 110
May 1992 1,070 960 n/a 110
May 1993 1,130 1,010 n/a 120
May 1994 1,180 1,040 n/a 140
May 1995 1,210 1,060 n/a 150
May 1996 1,230 1,060 n/a 170
February 1997 1,030 1,020 10 n/a

Notes

1. All figures have been rounded to the nearest ten thousand.

2. Income Support sample size: 1 per cent. up to and including 1993, 5 per cent. thereafter.

3. Figures include estimates due to the data collection procedure in Scotland.

4. The information does not include second adult rebate cases.

5. Community Charge Benefit was replaced by Council Tax Benefit from April 1993.

6. Housing benefit/Council Tax Benefit and Community Charge Benefit figures exclude those receiving Income Support, and the overlap between Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

7. Information is not available on the number of new claims from lone parents made in the same period.

Sources

1. Income Support Annual Statistical Enquiry, 1991.

2. Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, February 1997.

3. Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample enquiries without Income Support, taken at the end of May in each year given.

Mr. Duncan Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she plans to publish the reports comparing the control groups and the control areas for the New Deal for Lone Parents scheme. [20052]

Mr. Bradley

The final report is scheduled for publication in autumn 1999.

Mr. Duncan Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if it is the objective of the New Deal for Lone Parents scheme to get lone parents into full-time work; [20039]

(2) how many of the 433 lone parents who have got work through the New Deal for Lone Parents have full-time jobs; and how many are no longer claiming benefits. [20027]

Mr. Bradley

The objective of the New Deal for Lone Parents is to help lone parents on Income Support improve their incomes by assisting them to take up or increase paid work.

We do not expect that all lone parents moving into work will be able to do so on a full-time basis. There will be individuals whose personal circumstances are such that this will not be a viable option. We know, however, that the majority of lone parents want to work, and we expect that their aim will be to move towards financial independence.

Up to the end of November, 864 lone parents had been helped into work through the Government's New Deal for Lone Parents. Although the majority will have moved into work of 16 or more hours per week, information on the hours of work is not yet available in all cases. Of the 655 cases where information is currently available, 568 lone parents had moved into work of 16 or more hours per week. Of this group, 540 are not currently receiving Income Support.