HL Deb 13 January 1997 vol 577 cc3-4WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many children are dependent on income support in (a) England and (b) Scotland; and what percentage of those under 16 each of these figures represents.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish:

The information is in the table.

Children in families receiving income support February 1996
Number of children Percentage of under 16's
England 2,539,000 25
Scotland 246,000 24

Notes:

1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand, percentages to the nearest whole percent.

2. Sample size 5 per cent.

3. Children are defined as aged 15 and under.

4. Percentages reflect the number of children in families receiving income support as a proportion of all children in each respective country, based on Office of National Statistics 1995 mid-term estimates of the population.

Sources

1. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry February 1996.

2. Office of National Statistics mid-term estimates of the population 1995.