§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the net cost to public funds of abolishing the child allowance and replacing it with tax free family allowances for all children including the first child equal to those provided by the ordinary scale of supplementary benefit.
£ million End— Long-term debt Short and medium-term debt from IMF Others (including HMG loan) Public Sector borrowing 1956 … … 2,550 — — — 1957 … … 2,897 — — — 1958 … … 2,853 303 — — 1959 … … 2,735 294 — — 1960 … … 2,643 161 — — 1961 … … 2,627 10 — — 1962 … … 2,536 384 — — 1963 … … 2,439 5 — — 1964 … … 2,338 364 — — 1965 … … 2,272 863 — — 1966 … … 2,211 861 56 — 1967 … … 2,172 628 210 — 1968 … … 2,247 1,134 22 — 1969 … … 2,255 1,104 150 21 1970 … … 2,160 970 — 19 1971 … … 1,906 415 — 84 1972 … … 1,802 — — 84 1973 … … 1,545 — — 158 1974 … … 1,465 — 518 470 September 1975 … 1,463 — 863 654 The figures for the period prior to 1967 are approximate because of a change in the statistical methodology at that time. The figures have been converted into sterling by means of the sterling/dollar parity rate, which from end-March 1973 has been £1=$2.8952.