To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total benefit entitlement of an unemployed single parent with two children aged under five years.

[holding answer 14 January 1991]: On the assumption that the qualifying conditions for each benefit are met and the entitlement to each is taken up, the benefit of an unemployed lone parent with two children aged under five years would be made up of child benefit, one-parent benefit and income support. The income support would be calculated as follows:

Applicable amounts	£
Adult personal allowance	36·70
Child's personal allowance	12·35
Child's personal allowance	12·35
Family premium	7·35
Lone parent premium	41·0
	72·85
Less income
Child Benefit (2 x £7·25)	14·50
One Parent Benefit	5·60
Income Support payable	52·75

The lone parent would also be entitled to housing benefit to meet any eligible rent and community charge benefit to cover 80 per cent. of the community charge. Those who are owner-occupiers may receive help with mortgage interest payments through income support.The children would also be eligible for free welfare foods assumed to be worth £2·10 per child per week.Families on income support also get extra help by virtue of their automatic entitlement (passport) to free prescriptions, exemption from dental and optical charges and help with patients' fares to hospital.