To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest estimated figures for the number of women in Britain, who have no regular income of their own from employment, investment or state benefits, excluding child benefit.

[holding answer 11 June 19901]: Estimates of total numbers of such women are not available. However, results of the 1988 family expenditure survey indicate that less than 10 per cent. of women (aged over 16 and not in full-time education) who live in private households in Great Britain had no regular income.