§ Mrs. BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the projected change in the numbers of lone parents over the next 10 years. [23522]
666W
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe information is not available in the form requested. Neither the Office for National Statistics, which is responsible for demographic statistics on the family, nor the Government Actuary's Department produces projections of the number of lone parent families.
The Department of Social Security makes its own projections for planning purposes and these indicate that the number of lone parent families in Great Britain could increase by about 500,000 to over 2 million by 2006. Such estimates are subject to considerable uncertainty and may over-estimate growth over the next 10 years.
§ Ms Julie MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the level of advice and guidance and staffing available in the pilot projects of the Lone Parent Initiative will be matched when the national roll-out takes place. [24111]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe Government plan to continue providing a high quality service once the New Deal for Lone Parents is extended nationwide. Precise staffing levels have yet to be decided but the intention is that advice and guidance available to lone parents and their Personal Advisers will match that available in the eight pilot areas.
Notes:
- I. From April 1998, for the New Deal for Lone Parents programme, will be delivered to all lone parents nationally making a new or repeat claim for Income Support.
- 2. From October 1998, for the New Deal for Lone Parents programme, will be delivered to all lone parents nationwide, existing and new claimants.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the number of claimants and the number of new claims of(a) lone parent benefit and (b) lone parent premium in the Newcastle Benefits Agency district in each year since 1992. [22984]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe administration of Social Security Benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 21 January 1998:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if she will list the number of claimants and the number of new claims of (a) lone parent benefit and (b) lone parent premium in the Newcastle Benefits Agency (BA) district in each year since 1992.The information is not available in the format requested. Lone parent benefit details are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Similarly, the number of new claims to Income Support (IS) which include the entitlement to lone parent premium could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The following figures relate to the number of IS customers in the BA's Newcastle District, which includes the Newcastle St. James and Newcastle East offices, who were in receipt of lone parent premium from 1992 to 1996 and for 1997 the higher rate of the family premium, which from April 1997 replaced the lone parent premium. They do not include those lone parent customers who are pensioners nor those registered sick who would qualify for a higher 667W rate premium such as a pensioner or disability. These figures are a snapshot taken at the ene of November in each year; they are the latest available and may be subject to amendment.
Year Number of cases 1992 7,625 1993 7,645 1994 7,663 1995 7,616 1996 7,529 1997 6,977 I hope you find this reply helpful.