Hansard

Lone Parents

Volume 301: debated on Tuesday 25 November 1997

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Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many of those individuals in a family headed by a lone parent where household income after housing costs is below half the national average are (a) in benefit units receiving income support, (b) in benefit units not receiving income support but receiving one parent benefit, (c) in benefit units where the head works 16 hours per week or more or (d) in benefit units receiving family credit, housing benefit or council tax benefit. [17620]

Mr. Keith Bradley

In 1995–96, an estimated 2.4 million individuals in Great Britain were in a family headed by a lone parent where household income after housing costs was below half the national average. Of these individuals, it is estimated that:

  • (a) 87 per cent. (2.1 million) were in benefit units receiving income support;
  • (b) 7 per cent. (0.2 million) were in benefit units not receiving income support but receiving one parent benefit;
  • (c) 7 per cent. (0.2 million) were in benefit units where the head worked 16 hours per week or more;
  • (d) 91 per cent. (2.2 million) were in benefit units in receipt of at least one of the following: family credit, housing benefit or council tax benefit.

    • Source:
    Households Below Average Income (HBAI).
    Notes:
    1. The data come from the Department's Households Below Average Income(HBAI) series, based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS and covering Great Britain. The FRS data was used to achieve a large enough sample size to provide the information. All results are subject to sampling error.
    2. The income measure used is weekly net (disposable) equivalised household income. The definition of income used follows that in the published HBAI series for FRS based results.