§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much families in Northern Ireland will lose through the ending of school meals for those receiving family credit under the social security proposals.
§ Mr. NeedhamUnder the proposals for social security reform, the cash equivalent of free school meals will be consolidated into the child credits in family credit. The overall effect on expenditure will therefore be neutral. The effect on individual families will depend on whether or not they are claiming free school meals and on the rates of benefit applicable when family credit is introduced in April 1988.
§ Mr. Archerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much families in Northern Ireland will benefit by reason of the proposed family credit scheme in the social security proposals.
§ Mr. NeedhamAs it is the Government's intention that the principle of parity with Great Britain should remain the basis for provision of social security in Northern Ireland, it follows that the impact of the proposed reform on low income families will be generally the same in Northern Ireland as in Great Britain. I regret that detailed figures on the effect on families are not available.