asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest available figures on the numbers of one-parent families receiving one-parent benefit; if he will estimate how many of those do not benefit financially from doing so; how many lone parents who would benefit financially from one-parent benefit do not receive it; and what is the percentage take-up rate.

In July 1985, 581,000 families are receiving one parent benefit. The latest estimates of take-up, and the other figures requested, relate to December 1982. At that time 510,000 one parent families received one parent benefit and of those 185,000 did not gain by claiming. A further 100,000 one parent families might have gained financially if they had claimed. The take-up rate was 75 per cent. of those who stand to gain by claiming.