Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Low Income Families – 18 July 1986

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Low Income Families on 18th July 1986.

Dr. McDonald Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish a table showing for 1983 (a) the numbers of families with one, two, three, four or more children living below, at, and up to 140 per cent. of the supplementary benefit level on the latest basis and a basis comparable with 1981 and 1979, (b) how many of these families were in work or out of work and (c) the total number of families with one, two, three, four or more children, on the same basis as his reply of 16 May 1985 to the hon. Member for Thurrock, Official Report, column 224;
(2) if he will provide a breakdown from the low income families 1983 table of the main reasons for people falling below the supplementary benefit level on the same basis as his reply of 14 December 1983 to the hon. Member for Kensington (Sir B. Rhys Williams), Official Report, column 517;
(3) how many children were living in families below supplementary benefit level, on supplementary benefit, with incomes up to 140 per cent. of supplementary benefit level, classified by employment status, and whether they were in one- or two-parent families in 1983 on the latest basis and on a basis comparable with 1981 and 1979; and what proportion these children make up of the total number of children.

Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington (Sir B. Rhys Williams) on 8 July at column 157. When the tables are published, I will then be in a position to reply to the hon. Member’s questions.