§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in the third and fourth quarters of 1996–97, how many jobseeker's allowance claimants(a) applied for and (b) received hardship payments; and what percentage of all sanctioned claimants received a payment in the categories (i) voluntary unemployment or as a result of misconduct, (ii) availability for work, (iii) actively seeking work, (iv) refusing employment, (v) refusing or failing to attend a compulsory Government programme, (vi) jobseeker's agreement and (vii) jobseeker's direction. [7727]
Mr. BradleyOur Welfare to Work objectives are to provide work incentives, to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to strike a new balance between rights and responsibilities. We will ensure that Jobseeker's Allowance supports this new balance.
587WThe number of jobseekers who applied for hardship payments in the period October 1996 to November 1996 and December 1996 to February 1997 were 3,000 and 15,000 respectively. The numbers of hardship awards made for the same periods were 2,000 and 11,000. A breakdown of hardship awards made by reason for sanction is not presently available.
§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, in each quarter since 1995, what proportion of jobseeker's allowance claimants reported income from employment; what were the mean and median levels of earnings declared; and what was the breakdown of weekly earnings in £10 bands for (i) single jobseeker's allowance claimants, (ii) couples receiving income based jobseeker's allowance and (iii) lone parents in receipt of income support. [7731]
Mr. BradleyJobseeker's allowance replaced income support and unemployment benefit as the main benefit for the unemployed in October 1996. Information on the numbers of people receiving jobseeker's allowance who have income from employment is not yet available. In addition, data prior to November 1995 are not reliable. Such information as is available is contained in the tables.
Proportion of unemployed claimants who have reported income from employment; mean and median declared earnings: November 1995 to August 1996 Great Britain Quarter Proportion with earnings, Per cent. Mean earnings declared Median earnings declared November 1995 4 £53.37 £30.00 February 1996 4 £52.77 £30.00 May 1996 4 £50.28 £30.00 August 1996 4 £47.60 £28.80
Weekly earnings for single unemployed claimants: November 1995 to August 1996 Great Britain Quarter November 1995 February 1996 May 1996 August 1996 All with earnings 59,000 54,000 58,000 51,000 £0.01 to £10.00 9,000 8,000 9,000 8,000 £10.01 to £20.00 13,000 12,000 13,000 11,000 £20.01 to £30.00 10,000 10,000 10,000 9,000 £30.01 to £40.00 7,000 6,000 7,000 7,000 £40.01 to £50.00 6,000 5,000 5,000 4,000 £50.01 to £60.00 4,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 £60.01 to £70.00 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 £70.01 to £80.00 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 £80.01 to £90.00 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 £90.01 to £100.00 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 £100.01 and over 6,000 6,000 6,000 5,000 588W
Weekly earnings for couple unemployed claimants in receipt of income support; November 1995 to August 1996 Great Britain Quarter November 1995 February 1996 May 1996 August 1996 All with earnings 16,000 14,000 16,000 13,000 £0.01 to £10.00 3,000 2,000 3,000 3,000 £10.01 to £20.00 5,000 4,000 5,000 4,000 £20.01 to £30.00 3,000 3,000 4,000 3,000 £30.01 to £40.00 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000
Weekly earnings for couple unemployed claimants in receipt of income support: November 1995 to August 1996 Great Britain Quarter November 1995 February 1996 May 1996 August 1996 £40.01 to £50.00 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 £50.01 to £60.00 1,000 12,000 12,000 11,000 £60.01 and over 2,000 n/a n/a n/a Notes:
1£50.01 and over.
1. Unemployed claimant figures provide a lower bound on the numbers receiving payments from earnings. A number of recipients who receive earnings do not have the information recorded on the computer system.
2. Unemployed claimant figures show computerised claims only.
3. Income support lone parent recipients are those in receipt of the lone parent premium.
4. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and as such totals may not tally.
5. The upper earnings band have been combined for any categories which, when rounded, would be shown as zero.
6. All figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and as such are subject to a degree of sampling error.
Sources:
1. 5 per cent. sample of Unemployed claimants in Great Britain taken on the second Thursday of the months shown.
2. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry November 1995 to August 1996.
Weekly earnings for lone parents receiving income support: November 1995 to August 1996 Great Britain Quarter November 1995 February 1996 May 1996 August 1996 All with earnings 66,000 66,000 70,000 68,000 £0.01 to £10.00 4,000 4,000 5,000 5,000 £10.01 to £20.00 31,000 32,000 34,000 35,000 £20.01 to £30.00 14,000 14,000 14,000 13,000 £30.01 to £40.00 6,000 6,000 6,000 6,000 £40.01 to £50.00 5,000 4,000 5,000 5,000 £50.01 to £60.00 3,000 3,000 3,000 2,000 £60.01 to £70.00 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 £70.01 and over 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 Notes:
1. Unemployed claimant figures provide a lower bound on the numbers receiving payments from earnings. A number of recipients who receive earnings do not have the information recorded on the computer system.
2. Unemployed claimant figures show computerised claims only.
3. Income Support lone parent recipients are those in receipt of the lone parent premium.
4. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest thousand and as such totals may not tally.
5. The upper earnings bands have been combined for any categories which, when rounded, would be shown as zero.
6. All figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and as such are subject to a degree of sampling error.
Sources:
1. Five per cent. sample of Unemployed claimants in Great Britain taken on the second Thursday of the months shown.
2. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Enquiry November 1995 to August 1996.