§ Mr. MacDougallTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many claimants there were of(a) jobseeker's allowance, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) housing benefit in (i) Scotland and (ii) Fife in (A) May 1997 and (B) the last month for which figures are available; [114618]
(2) how many lone parents there were on income support in (a) Scotland and (b) Fife in (i) May 1997 and (ii) the last month for which figures are available. [114619]
§ Malcolm WicksThe information requested is in the tables. Figures are not seasonally adjusted so figures for May 2002 have also been included to allow a year-on-year comparison with May 1997.
918W
Unemployment claimant count in Scotland and Fife local authority Scotland Fife May 1997 158,807 11,431 May 2002 103,712 8,953 April 2003 102,664 8,540 Source:
Count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems.
Housing benefit claimants in Scotland and Fife local authority Scotland Fife May 1997 533,000 31,810 May 2002 450,000 27,700 November 2002 446,000 27,330 Notes:
1. The data refer to households claiming Housing Benefit which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.
2. The figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand and local authority figures to the nearest 10.
3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
4. Housing Benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
Source:
Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System.
Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in May 1997, May 2002 and November 2002.
Incapacity Benefit claimants in Scotland and Fife local authority Scotland Fife May 1997 300,000 16,900 May 2002 289,000 16,900 November 2002 288,800 17,000 Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample, therefore subject to sampling variation.
3. Figures include people receiving National Insurance Credits only
Source:
Figures are based on 5 per cent. samples of the-benefit computer system and will exclude a small number of clerically held cases.
Lone parents in receipt of Income Support 1 Scotland Fife local authority May 1997 95,200 5,900 May 2002 77,600 4,800 November 2002 76,200 5,000 1 Lone Parents are defined as single claimants with dependants not receiving the Disability or Pensioner Premium. Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample, therefore subject to sampling variation.
Source:
Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiries.