§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents in Scotland had their benefit reduced as a result of the removal of the lone parent premium and lone parent rate of child benefit. [53738]
§ Mr. DenhamRecipients of the lone parent rates of family premium and child benefit at the date of removal will continue to receive the higher rates and will therefore suffer no reduction in benefit. There will be no cash losers. The estimate of the number of lone parents in Scotland at the end of 1998–99 who will have a lower level of benefit as a result of the changes is in the table.
Benefit Caseloads end 1998–99 Income support 26,000 Housing benefit 5,000 Council tax benefit 4,000 Child benefit 9,000 Note:
1. Caseloads have been rounded to the nearest 1,000. Caseloads for the individual benefits cannot be added together because some cases will be affected by the changes to more than one benefit
2. Caseloads show the situation at the end of 1998–99. They do not include cases who have moved onto benefit after the changes but who have flowed off benefit before the end of 1998–99