HC Deb 28 October 1999 vol 336 cc953-4W
Mr. O'Hara

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the total number of people aged(a) 60 to 74, (b) 75 to 79 and (c) over 80 years living in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Northern Ireland and (iv) Wales whose weekly income is £10 above the income support level. [94198]

Mr. Rooker

The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Couples and single persons with income between the income support level and £10 above the income support level in April 1999 in the United Kingdom
Thousand
Age of eldest partner Single person Couple All single persons and couples
60 to 74 60 20 80
75 to 79 140 40 180
80 and over 90 10 100
All 60 and over 290 70 360

Notes:

  1. 1. Due to small sample sizes, separate estimates for England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales are not available.
  2. 2. Income is defined as net income before housing costs.
  3. 3. Incomes are derived from the 1996–97 Family Expenditure Survey, uprated to April 1999 using the retail prices index. Therefore this analysis assumes that the real value of pensioners' incomes is the same in April 1999 as in 1996–97.
  4. 4. The levels of income support are based on April 1999 rates for singles and couples, taking account of age-related increases in rates. The analysis does not take account of other increases in rates, such as disability-related premia. Therefore some people identified in the analysis may be eligible for income support at a higher rate.
  5. 5. Estimates should be treated with caution since they are based on small sample sizes.
  6. 6. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000 but are not necessarily accurate to that degree.

Source:

Family Expenditure Survey

Mr. Michael J. Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what was the number of claimants receiving Income Support at the end of August 1996 in each local authority area in England; [95738]

(2) what was the number of dependent children of claimants receiving Income Support at the end of August 1996 in each local authority area in England. [95736]

Mr. Bayley

The information has been placed in the Library.