To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents living on income support have earnings, broken down between those with children aged under 11 years and those with children aged 11 to 15 years.
The information is not available in the form requested. The number of lone parents who are receiving income support and have earnings, broken down by reference to the age of the youngest child is as follows:
| Number | |
| Under 11 | 59,000 |
| Age 11–15 | 19,000 |
| Age 16 and over | 4,000 |
| Total | 82,000 |
Source: 1989 Annual Statistical Inquiry.
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many lone parents living on income support have help with their mortgage interest payments; and what the average value of such help is for each lone parent family.
There are some 68,000 lone parents receiving income support which includes help with mortgage interest payments. The average weekly amount for mortgage interest taken into account in the assessment of income support is £30·45.