House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 4 Apr 2000 (pt 17)

Child Support

Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the estimated number of parents with care who have Child Support Agency assessments who are in receipt of working families tax credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit; [117402]

Angela Eagle: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. David Stewart, dated 3 April 2000:

I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the Child Support Agency.

Some of the information requested is not available, but such information as is available is given below.

As at November 1999 the latest statistics available are that there were 922,400 live cases where a full child maintenance assessment had been made. Of these 96,600 (10.5%) were in receipt of working family tax credit.

Unfortunately, similar information relating to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit cannot be obtained.

The Department's Analytical Services Division produces a CSA Quarterly Summary of Statistics that is available in the House of Commons Library and you may find the information it contains of further interest.

I am sorry to be only able to give you a partial answer, but I hope the information provided is helpful.

Disability Living Allowance

Mr. Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of disability living allowance have had their benefit increased on review since April 1999. [116714]

Mr. Bayley: From April to December 1999 (the latest month for which figures are available) 46,899 Disability Living Allowance recipients had their benefit increased on review.

Income Statistics

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for (a) England and (b) each English region, the number of children in households with income below half of the national average in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) each year from 1992 to 1998. [117237]

Mr. Bayley: We have pledged to halve the number of children living in poverty in 10 years and eradicate child poverty in 20 years and we have already made significant progress. The measures we have announced in successive Budgets will lift 1.2 million children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament.

Estimates of the number of children living in households below half average income for England and for English regions are presented in the following tables. Regional figures are available only from 1994-95.

4 Apr 2000 : Column: 450W

Number of children living in households below half UK average income for EnglandMillion

Before housing costs (BHC) After housing costs (AHC)

1979 1.0 1.1

1990-91 2.5 3.0

1992-93 2.8 3.6

1993-94 2.7 3.5

	Before housing costs (BHC)	After housing costs (AHC)
1979	1.0	1.1
1990-91	2.5	3.0
1992-93	2.8	3.6
1993-94	2.7	3.5

Number of children living in households below half GB average income for EnglandMillion

Before housing costs (BHC) After housing costs (AHC)

1994-5 2.5 3.5

1995-96 2.3 3.5

1996-97 2.8 3.9

1997-98 2.8 3.8

	Before housing costs (BHC)	After housing costs (AHC)
1994-5	2.5	3.5
1995-96	2.3	3.5
1996-97	2.8	3.9
1997-98	2.8	3.8

Number of children living in households below half average income for English regionsMillion

1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98

BHC

North East 0.20 0.15 0.20 0.20

North West and Merseyside 0.45 0.40 0.50 0.45

Yorkshire and the Humber 0.35 0.30 0.35 0.35

East Midlands 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.25

West Midlands 0.25 0.30 0.40 0.40

Eastern 0.25 0.20 0.25 0.25

London 0.40 0.25 0.45 0.45

South East 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.30

South West 0.20 0.20 0.25 0.25

AHC

North East 0.20 0.20 0.25 0.25

North West and Merseyside 0.55 0.55 0.60 0.60

Yorkshire and the Humber 0.40 0.35 0.40 0.35

East Midlands 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.25

West Midlands 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.45

Eastern 0.40 0.30 0.35 0.35

London 0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75

South East 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.40

South West 0.30 0.30 0.35 0.30

	1994-95	1995-96	1996-97	1997-98
BHC
North East	0.20	0.15	0.20	0.20
North West and Merseyside	0.45	0.40	0.50	0.45
Yorkshire and the Humber	0.35	0.30	0.35	0.35
East Midlands	0.20	0.20	0.20	0.25
West Midlands	0.25	0.30	0.40	0.40
Eastern	0.25	0.20	0.25	0.25
London	0.40	0.25	0.45	0.45
South East	0.20	0.25	0.30	0.30
South West	0.20	0.20	0.25	0.25

AHC
North East	0.20	0.20	0.25	0.25
North West and Merseyside	0.55	0.55	0.60	0.60
Yorkshire and the Humber	0.40	0.35	0.40	0.35
East Midlands	0.30	0.30	0.30	0.25
West Midlands	0.35	0.40	0.45	0.45
Eastern	0.40	0.30	0.35	0.35
London	0.60	0.65	0.70	0.75
South East	0.40	0.45	0.50	0.40
South West	0.30	0.30	0.35	0.30

Notes:

1. The source is Households Below Average Income (HBAI). Estimates for 1979 to 1993-94 are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey and these estimates, including the value of half average income, relate to the United Kingdom. Results for 1990-91, 1992-93 and 1993-94 are for two years combined. Estimates for 1994-95 to 1997-98 are taken from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) and the estimates, including the value of half average income, relate to Great Britain. FRS-based estimates use a slightly different definition of income; results are therefore not precisely comparable with those for years before 1994-95, but the results presented here are broadly comparable.

2. All estimates are subject to sampling error and response biases, and small changes apparent in these tables may be influenced by these. Results for individual years may be sensitive to the precise way in which household incomes are adjusted for household size and composition; the picture of changes over time is generally not sensitive to this.

3. Estimates are presented on household income both Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing Costs (AHC) in line with HBAI conventions.

4. Results in the tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 100,000. Results in the table are rounded to the nearest 50,000.

4 Apr 2000 : Column: 451W

Mobility Scooters

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many requests for funding for mobility scooters were made in England and Wales during 1999. [117084]

Mr. Bayley: Information about the number of requests for scooters, as distinct from other Motability vehicles, is not held separately. However, during 1999 Motability supplied its UK customers with 3,641 powered wheelchairs and pavement scooters through its Hire Purchase Scheme, which is funded through the use of the customer's Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement.

Motability run a UK wide powered wheelchair and scooter scheme and figures recorded are combined to include both powered wheelchairs and scooters, on a UK basis. Separate figures for England and Wales are therefore not available.

Pensioner Incomes

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list for (a) England and (b) each English region the number of pensioners in households with income below half of the national average in (i) 1979, (ii) 1990 and (iii) each year from 1992 to 1998. [117238]

Mr. Rooker: Estimates of the number of pensioners living in households below half average income for England and for English regions are presented in the following tables. Regional figures are available only from 1994-95.

Number of pensioners living in households below half UK average income for EnglandMillion

Before housing costs (BHC) After housing costs (AHC)

1979 1.2 1.2

1990-91 2.7 2.9

1992-93 2.0 2.4

1993-94 1.8 2.3

	Before housing costs (BHC)	After housing costs (AHC)
1979	1.2	1.2
1990-91	2.7	2.9
1992-93	2.0	2.4
1993-94	1.8	2.3

Number of pensioners living in households below half GB average income for EnglandMillion

Before housing costs (BHC) After housing costs (AHC)

1994-95 1.7 2.2

1995-96 1.8 2.2

1996-97 1.7 2.3

1997-98 1.9 2.4

	Before housing costs (BHC)	After housing costs (AHC)
1994-95	1.7	2.2
1995-96	1.8	2.2
1996-97	1.7	2.3
1997-98	1.9	2.4

Number of pensioners living in households below half average income for English regions, BHCMillion

1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98

North East 0.10 0.10 0.10 0.10

North West and Merseyside 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25

Yorkshire and the Humber 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20

East Midlands 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.20

West Midlands 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20

Eastern 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20

London 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20

South East 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25

South West 0.15 0.20 0.20 0.25

	1994-95	1995-96	1996-97	1997-98
North East	0.10	0.10	0.10	0.10
North West and Merseyside	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25
Yorkshire and the Humber	0.20	0.20	0.20	0.20
East Midlands	0.15	0.15	0.15	0.20
West Midlands	0.20	0.20	0.20	0.20
Eastern	0.20	0.20	0.20	0.20
London	0.20	0.20	0.20	0.20
South East	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25
South West	0.15	0.20	0.20	0.25

4 Apr 2000 : Column: 452W

Number of pensioners living in households below half average income for English regions, AHCMillion

1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98

North East 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15

North West and Merseyside 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30

Yorkshire and the Humber 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25

East Midlands 0.15 0.20 0.20 0.20

West Midlands 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25

Eastern 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25

London 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30

South East 0.35 0.35 0.30 0.30

South West 0.20 0.25 0.25 0.30

	1994-95	1995-96	1996-97	1997-98
North East	0.15	0.15	0.15	0.15
North West and Merseyside	0.30	0.30	0.30	0.30
Yorkshire and the Humber	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25
East Midlands	0.15	0.20	0.20	0.20
West Midlands	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25
Eastern	0.25	0.25	0.25	0.25
London	0.30	0.30	0.30	0.30
South East	0.35	0.35	0.30	0.30
South West	0.20	0.25	0.25	0.30

Notes:

1. The source is Households Below Average Income (HBAI). Estimates for 1979 to 1993-94 are derived from the Family Expenditure Survey and these estimates, including the value of half average income, relate to the United Kingdom. Results for 1990-91, 1992-93 and 1993-94 are for two years combined. Estimates for 1994-95 to 1997-98 are taken from the Family Resources Survey and the estimates, including the value of half average income, relate to Great Britain. FRS-based estimates use a slightly different definition of income; results are therefore not precisely comparable with those for years before 1994-95, but the results presented here are broadly comparable.

2. All estimates are subject to sampling error and response biases, and small changes apparent in these tables may be influenced by these. Results for individual years are sensitive to the precise way in which household incomes are adjusted for household size and composition; the picture of changes over time is generally not sensitive to this.

3. Estimates are presented on household income both Before Housing Costs (BHC) and After Housing Costs (AHC) in line with HBAI conventions.

4. Results in tables 1 and 2 are rounded to the nearest 100,000. Results in table 2 and 3 are rounded to the nearest 50,000.

Past changes in pensioner incomes reflect the fact that many pensioners have simply lost out on the opportunity to invest in a second pension. Our strategy for tomorrow's pensioners will provide the opportunity for all people of working age to build a second pension. We are also determined to provide security for all of today's pensioners. The minimum income guarantee provides that security for pensioners with low incomes and our national take-up programme will encourage those entitled to claim.

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