§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average weekly gross council tax of family credit recipients; how many have weekly gross council tax bills of (i) up to £3.99, (ii) £4–£7.99, (iii) £8–£11.99, (iv) £12–£15.99, (v) £16–£19.99 and (vi) £20 or above; and how many in each of these categories are also receiving council tax benefit. [21787]
§ Mr. Keith Bradley[holding answer 19 December 1997]: According to the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey the average weekly gross Council Tax of Family Credit recipients was £11 (rounded to the nearest £1).
202WInformation about the gross level of the Council Tax liability of Family Credit recipients is shown in Table A. Counts of Family Credit receipt derived from the Family Resources Survey do not match administrative sources. Therefore the requested figures are shown as percentages rather than grossed up counts. Percentages are also used to show those within each band that are also in receipt of Council Tax Benefit.
Table B contains details of Council Tax Benefit recipients who are also in receipt of Family Credit.
Table A: Gross level of the Council Tax liability of Family Credit recipients Recipients of Family Credit Weekly gross Council Tax (£"s) Percentages within each Council Tax band Percentage within band in receipt of Council Tax Benefit Up to 3.99 1— 1— 4 to 7.99 10 39 8 to 11.99 59 39 12 to 15.99 31 31 16 to 19.99 1— 1— 20 or above 1— 1— Total 100 Not applicable 1 Denotes nil or negligible. 1. The figures exclude non-householder benefit units in receipt of Family Credit.
2. The figures are based on information from the 1995–96 Family Resources Survey (FRS). The 1995–96 survey is the latest for which data are available.
3. The estimates are based on sample counts which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which control for region, Council Tax Band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and to variability in non response.
4. The figures refer to householder benefit units where the benefit unit to which the adult belongs is in receipt of Family Credit. A benefit unit is a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children.
5. Gross Council Tax is the amount of weekly Council Tax eligible for Council Tax Benefit.
Table B: Council Tax Benefit recipients who receive Family Credit, by average weekly gross Council Tax, within Great
Britain—May 1996
Average weekly gross Council Tax (£s) Council Tax Benefit recipients with Family Credit Up to 3.99 1— 4 to 7.99 67,000 8 to 11.99 116,000 12 to 15.99 18,000 16 to 19.99 3,000 20 or above 1— Total all cases 205,000 1 Denotes nil or negligible. Source:
Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample enquiries, with and without Income Support, taken at the end of May 1996.
Notes:
1. Information refers to Council Tax Benefit recipients who have Family Credit.
2. Gross Council Tax is the amount of weekly Council Tax eligible for Council Tax Benefit.
3. The number of recipients have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
4. Figures refer to the number of benefit units.