asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in each of the last five years, how many women have received widow's allowance; how many of them had dependent children; and how many received in addition the earnings-related supplement.
For the last five years for which figures are available, the information requested is as follows:benefit, (
b) sickness benefit and ( c) maternity allowance; and, in each case, how many have received earnings related supplement.
I regret that the precise information requested is not available.
The figures given in the table below are in respect of women who received an increase of benefit for one or more dependent children but not for an adult
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO RECEIVED AN INCREASE OF BENEFIT FOR ONE OR MORE CHILDREN: | |||||
Year
| Unemployment Benefit (i) | Sickness Benefit (ii) | Maternity Allowance (iii) | ||
1974 | … | … | 1,000 | 3,800 | 9,300 |
1975 | … | … | 1,800 | 4,300 | 7,000 |
1976 | … | … | 3,200 | 3,900 | 9,700 |
1977 | … | … | 3,700 | 3,700 | 7,800 |
1978 | … | … | 3,900 | 4,800 | 7,900 |
1979 | … | … | 2,500 | not yet available | not yet available |
Sources:
| |||||
(i) 5 per cent. sample of registered unemployed—1974 to 1978—and of claimants to unemployment benefit or credits—1979—on a day in May each year. | |||||
(ii) 2½ percent. sample of claimants 1974 and 1975 and 2 per cent. sample 1976 to 1978 on a day in June each year. | |||||
(iii) 2½ per cent. sample of awards made throughout each year ending 31 March. |