Lone Parents (Hansard, 30 July 1997)

HC Deb 30 July 1997 vol 299 cc363-4W 364W

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the effects of the reduction in income support levels for lone parents to be introduced in April 1998 on the diet and living standards of the children of lone parents remaining on income support. [10768]

§ Mr. Keith Bradley
Existing recipients of the lone parent rate of the family premium in income support will not be affected as the benefit changes will affect only lone parents making new claims. It is not possible to assess accurately the effect of the reduction in income support levels on the diet and living standards of the children of those lone parents who will make a new claim for income support: individual lone parents will chose to spend their income support in different ways. The best way we can help lone parents to improve significantly their living standards is to help them move into work. That is why we have set up the new deal to help them to do this. Lone parents in work are, on average, £50 a week better off than they are out of work.

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations she has received from organisations representing lone parents about(a) the level of income support for lone parents and (b) the level of child benefit for lone parents; and if she will place copies of such representations in the Library. [10770]

§ Mr. Bradley
Representations about the proposed changes to lone parent benefits were made by a wide variety of organisations, including those representing lone parents, to the Social Security Advisory Committee; the same points have been raised in regular discussions between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and lone parent organisations. These representations were reflected in the Social Security Advisory Committee's report, which was published on 30 July together with the Government's response as Command Paper 3713. However, lone parent organisations recognise that work offers lone parents the best way to improve their standard of living, and have welcomed the new deal for lone parents.