Lone Parents (Hansard, 27 October 1997)

§ Mr. Cousins
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list for the most recent available period,(a) the number of claimants of one-parent benefit in the United Kingdom and each region and nation, (b) the estimated number of claimants of one-parent benefit for the same areas who are (i) working and (ii) working and receiving family credit, (c) the number of claimants of one-parent benefit who are also receiving 733W lone-parent premium for the same areas and (d) the number of new claimants in each area over the most recent 12 month period. [12979]

Country/region¹ One parent benefit (OPB) recipients² Lone parents receiving family credit³ OPB receipients receiving lone parent premium in income support/jobseeker"s allowance^4,5 OPB recipients receiving lone parent premium in housing benefit^5,6 OPB recipients receiving lone parent premium in council tax benefit^5,6 New claims to OPB⁷

Great Britain 1,027,000 326,000 388,000 109,000 89,000 165,000

England 874,000 263,000 335,000 91,000 75,000 n/a

South-east (including London) n/a n/a 140,000 n/a n/a n/a

North n/a n/a 23,000 n/a n/a n/a

Yorkshire and Humberside n/a n/a 28,000 n/a n/a n/a

East Midlands n/a n/a 21,000 n/a n/a n/a

East Anglia n/a n/a 10,000 n/a n/a n/a

South-west n/a n/a 23,000 n/a n/a n/a

West Midlands n/a n/a 32,000 n/a n/a n/a

North-west n/a n/a 58,000 n/a n/a n/a

Scotland 104,000 45,000 35,000 14,000 11,000 n/a

Wales 50,000 19,000 18,000 4,000 3,000 n/a

¹ Standard statistical English regions.

² As at 31 December 1996. Based on 1 per cent. sample of child benefit centre records.

³ As at 31 December 1996. Represents the maximum number of such lone parents that could potentially be in receipt of OPB. Based on 5 per cent. sample of family credit records.

⁴ Income support as at November 1996, based on Quarterly Statistical Enquiry. Excludes 6,000 jobseekers"s allowance (Income based) cases which cannot be split by country/region.

⁵ Excludes OPB recipients receiving income support/jobseeker"s allowance/housing benefit/council tax benefit but not receiving a lone parent premium because they receive a higher value premium e.g., disabled child premium.

⁶ Housing benefit/council tax benefit recipients not also in receipt of IS/JSA, as at May 1996. Based on HB/CTB Annual Statistical Enquiry. There is an overlap as most people receive both HB and CTB.

⁷ For year ending 31 December 1996. Based on per cent. sample of child benefit centre records.

§ Mr. Webb
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 30 July,Official Report, column 364, what estimate she has made of the number of lone parents in receipt of income support in each of the next three financial years. [12822]

§ Mr. Keith Bradley
The latest estimates of the number of lone parents in receipt of income support in each of the next three financial years are shown in the table. Unfortunately revised estimates will not actually be available until publication of the 1998 social security departmental report next Spring.

Lone parents in receipt of income support

Thousands

1997–98 1,054

1998–99 1,044

1999–00 1,054

1. Figures are consistent with those given in tables 6 and 7 in the 1997 Social Security Departmental Report and are rounded to the nearest thousand.
2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent sample and as such are subject to a degree of sampling variation.

Country/region¹	One parent benefit (OPB) recipients²	Lone parents receiving family credit³	OPB receipients receiving lone parent premium in income support/jobseeker"s allowance^4,5	OPB recipients receiving lone parent premium in housing benefit^5,6	OPB recipients receiving lone parent premium in council tax benefit^5,6	New claims to OPB⁷
Great Britain	1,027,000	326,000	388,000	109,000	89,000	165,000
England	874,000	263,000	335,000	91,000	75,000	n/a
South-east (including London)	n/a	n/a	140,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
North	n/a	n/a	23,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
Yorkshire and Humberside	n/a	n/a	28,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
East Midlands	n/a	n/a	21,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
East Anglia	n/a	n/a	10,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
South-west	n/a	n/a	23,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
West Midlands	n/a	n/a	32,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
North-west	n/a	n/a	58,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
Scotland	104,000	45,000	35,000	14,000	11,000	n/a
Wales	50,000	19,000	18,000	4,000	3,000	n/a
¹ Standard statistical English regions.
² As at 31 December 1996. Based on 1 per cent. sample of child benefit centre records.
³ As at 31 December 1996. Represents the maximum number of such lone parents that could potentially be in receipt of OPB. Based on 5 per cent. sample of family credit records.
⁴ Income support as at November 1996, based on Quarterly Statistical Enquiry. Excludes 6,000 jobseekers"s allowance (Income based) cases which cannot be split by country/region.
⁵ Excludes OPB recipients receiving income support/jobseeker"s allowance/housing benefit/council tax benefit but not receiving a lone parent premium because they receive a higher value premium e.g., disabled child premium.
⁶ Housing benefit/council tax benefit recipients not also in receipt of IS/JSA, as at May 1996. Based on HB/CTB Annual Statistical Enquiry. There is an overlap as most people receive both HB and CTB.
⁷ For year ending 31 December 1996. Based on per cent. sample of child benefit centre records.

Lone parents in receipt of income support
	Thousands
1997–98	1,054
1998–99	1,044
1999–00	1,054