§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost, in the current financial year, of paying non-taxable children's allowances at the rate of: (a) £5 and (b) £6 per week to all children under the age of 16 years, and to all children under the age of: (a) 18 years and (b) 21 years, who are in full-time education.
§ Mr. OrmeThe estimated costs, net of savings in social security benefits, are set out in the following table:
Maximum age of children (in full-time education) Assumed rate of children's allowance (per week) Net Benefit cost (£ million) 18 £5 2,515 18 £6 3,160 21 £5 2,665 21 £6 3,340 These figures take no account of the consequential loss of tax to the Exchequer through replacing some taxable benefits with a tax-free allowance.
128Wbridgeshire as a whole, with Norfolk and with the average for England and Wales.
§ Dr. OwenThe following figures relate to the hospital services managed by the district management teams and area health authorities concerned, and give the position in 1974. Figures for 1975 will be available shortly, and I shall write to my hon. Friend.