§ 66. Mr. Manderasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate cost at the present time of instituting a system of children's allowances on the lines of the Beveridge Report at the rate of 5s. per week, taking into consideration the economy that would be effected by the consequent reduction in the cost of service children's allowances?
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir Kingsley Wood)I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper which was issued on this subject in May last (Cmd. 6354) in which he will find full details of the cost of various schemes of children's allowances at the 5s. rate. As explained in that paper, it would appear, for a variety of reasons, to be impracticable to realise any saving in respect of children of men in the Armed Forces.
§ Mr. ManderIn view of the very great interest in children's allowances, could not my right hon. Friend consider introducing them in the near future, so that people can have some of their Beveridge jam now?
§ Sir K. WoodThat is quite a different question from the Question on the Paper asking the cost.