HC Deb 23 May 2003 vol 406 cc55-6W
Paul Holmes

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people of working age were economically inactive in each year since 1997; how many of these were claiming(a) welfare benefits, (b) incapacity benefit, (c) other disability benefits and (d) income support; and if he will make a statement; [114480]

(2) how many people of working age who were economically inactive and claiming income support were lone parents in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [114481]

Malcolm Wicks

The available information is in the following table.

Numbers of working-age adults in the United Kingdom who were

inactive from 1997 to 2002 by Labour Force Survey spring

quarters (March to May each year)

Thousands (seasonally adjusted)
March to May Number
1997 7,588
1998 7,675
1999 7,560
2000 7,502
2001 7,675
2002 7,707

Notes:

1. Data are seasonally adjusted, and interim adjustments have

been made to the data to take into account 2001 census results.

2. Statistically robust information is not available on the number

of people of working age who were economically inactive an

claiming benefit.

Source:

ONS publication—Labour Market Trends May 2003 Table D2