§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the amount by which the reduction in Social Security spending in London was attributable to changes in the number of(a) people unemployed and (b) lone parents on Income Support in each year since 1996. [157141]
§ Mr. Bayley[holding answer 9 April 2001]: The estimated reductions in Social Security spending in London each year compared to a baseline of 1996–97 expenditure are shown in the table.
Estimated amount of reduction in Social Security spending attributable to changes in caseload (London) £ million Year Jobseeker's Allowance Is Lone Parents 1997/98 190 10 1998/99 270 50 1999/2000 350 70 2000/01 460 90 Notes:
1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample from the Jobseeker's Allowance and Income Support quarterly statistical inquiries and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.
2. Figures rounded to the nearest £10 million.
3. November 1996 is the base quarter.
4. November 2000 quarterly expenditure has been used as a proxy for the February 2001 quarter, as data are not yet available for this quarter.