Written question asked by Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 24 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 5 November 2002. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Tuesday, 5 November 2002 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Answer of 15th October 2002 at 390 c634-5W, on benefit payments, how the figures quoted relate to his Department's PSA target on the proportion of parents with care on income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance who receive maintenance for their children; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 15 October, Official Report, columns 634-5W, on benefit payments, how the figures quoted relate to his Department's PSA target on the proportion of parents with care on income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance who receive maintenance for their children; and if he will make a statement. [78075] Malcolm Wicks: The figures are consistent with one another. The figures given in the answer of 15 October 2002, Official Report column 635W, on Child Support maintenance, are based on aggregates of: (a) for 1997, figures, for both total number of parents with care in receipt of the relevant benefit and the number of such parents with care receiving maintenance, for Income Support, income- based Jobseekers Allowance, Family Credit and Disability Working Allowance; (b) for 2002, figures, for both total number of parents with care in receipt of the relevant benefit and the number of such parents with care receiving maintenance, for Income Support, income- based Jobseekers Allowance and Working Families Tax Credit. The Department's Public Services Agreement target refers only to clients who are receipt of Income Support.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 78075; 392 c184-5W;392 c197W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Children Maintenance Parents Payments Statistics Social security benefits
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk