asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest available figures for the number of (a) one-parent families and (b) two-parent families who have income below supplementary benefit level, at supplementary benefit level and within 140 per cent of supplementary benefit level, respectively; and how many children were involved in each category.

The information requested is shown in the two tables below. The figures are based on estimates contained in a set of tables under the general heading "Low Income Families—1979", copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. These estimates are subject to the qualifications in the notes to those tables.

In December 1981, the latest date for which complete information is available, 471,000 one-parent families were receiving one-parent benefit. Of these, 158,000 have one-parent benefit taken into account when their resources are assessed for supplementary benefit purposes. It is estimated that a further 140,000 lone parents would have gained financially from one-parent benefit had they claimed it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the latest available figures for the number of (a) one-parent families and (b) two-parent families in receipt of family income supplement; what was the average payment; and how many received the maximum payment, for the most recent convenient period;(2) what are his latest available estimates of the number of

The following table provides the information requested for those in receipt of family income supplement at the end of September 1982.

	Number in receipt	Average payment £	Number receiving maximum payment
All families	158,000	9·60	20,000
One-parent families	70,000	10·70	10,000
Two-parent families	88,000	8·80	10,000

As regards the number of families who may be eligible to receive family income supplement but who do not claim it, I regret that I cannot add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Bottomley) on 16 November 1982.—[