HC Deb 04 June 1998 vol 313 cc314-6W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assumptions about the rate of response to initial letters to lone parents underlay the budgeting for the Parent Plus pilots; and what has been the actual response rate to initial letters under the New Deal for lone parents. [40209]

Mr. Keith Bradley

Budgeting for the Parent Plus pilots was based on the assumption that 35 per cent. of lone parents sent a letter would attend an initial interview and, of those, 50 per cent. would agree to participate, giving a take-up rate of 17.5 per cent. The same assumptions were made in the initial plans for the New Deal for Lone Parents.

Lone parents have attended interviews in response to various contacts: directly in response to letters of invitation, and indirectly in response to publicity, and word of mouth. As of 24 April 1998, there were 25,805 contacts with lone parents, which includes 22,402 lone parents who had been sent letters. 5,508 lone parents have attended an interview in response to a letter or other publicity; and 4,901 have agreed to participate in the New Deal for Lone Parents, following an interview. This means that approximately 90 per cent. of those attending an interview have agreed to participate; and produces a take-up rate of 19 per cent., higher than the original assumption.

A full independent evaluation of the New Deal for Lone Parents is being undertaken, to report in Autumn 1999. This will assess the overall effectiveness of the programme.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will estimate the average income of an unemployed lone mother with three dependent children in(a) London, (b) Birmingham, (c) Manchester, (d) Glasgow and (e) Edinburgh in each year between 1993–94 and 1998–99 broken down by benefit. [43915]

Mr. Keith Bradley

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

Data on the average incomes of unemployed lone mothers in each of the cities named in the question are not available.

There may be unemployed lone mothers with income (from other sources, for example child maintenance) of a level which will affect their entitlement to Income Support or JSA, Free School Meals and Welfare Food. Child Benefit is payable in full irrespective of income.

Social Security (SS) benefit entitlement—1993–94 to 1997–98 and (existing claimants only) 1998–99 for an unemployed lone mother with three dependent children
£
Year IS/JSA Child benefit Free school meals and welfare foods SS benefit entitlement
1993–94 78.55 32.25 10.49 121.29
1994–95 82.30 32.85 10.84 125.99
1995–96 83.65 33.60 11.40 128.65
1996–97 85.95 34.70 10.76 131.41
1997–98 88.35 35.10 10.90 134.35
from April 1998 90.35 35.70 10.96 137.01
from November 1998 95.35 35.70 10.96 142.01

Note:

From 6 April 1998, new claimants receive different rates.

Social Security (SS) benefit entitlement—1998–99 for an unemployed lone mother with three dependent children
£
IS/JSA Child benefit Free school meals and welfare foods SS benefit entitlement
from April 1998 85.65 35.70 10.96 132.31
from July 1998 91.30 30.05 10.96 132.31
from November 1998 96.30 30.05 10.96 137.31

Notes:

1. These tables show lone parents' Social Security benefit entitlements (excluding Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit)

2. An unemployed lone mother's Social Security benefit entitlement (excluding Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) is made up of (a) Income Support (IS) or, for some lone mothers, JSA; (b) Child Benefit (ChB); and (c) Free School Meals and Welfare Foods (FSM & WF). There is no regional variation in the rates of these benefits

3. Lone mothers who are unemployed and in receipt of Income Support (IS) or JSA may receive help with their housing costs—hrough Housing Benefit (HB) or Income Support Mortgage Interest (ISMI)—and with their council tax—through Council Tax Benefit (CTB)

4. Gross benefit entitlement figures for lone mothers (ie before housing costs) would show a variation by city, since rents and Council Tax (and therefore Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) vary by city

5. IS claimants are entitled to welfare foods (free milk tokens and vitamins) for any children they have under 5 years old and free school meals for children they have aged 5 and over. The value of free school meals is based on the January 1991 figure uprated by the RPI food component each year. The value of welfare foods is an estimate based on the average cost of a pint of milk

6. The figures assume:

  1. (a) take up of full benefit entitlement, and
  2. (b) the family has no capital or disregarded income

7. The figures shown assume one child to be under 5, another between 5 and 10 years old and the third between 11 and 15 years old

8. The removal of the lone parent rate of Child Benefit, which is reflected in table 2, is subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary regulations