§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the costs to the Exchequer of (a) the payment of £1 a week additional dependency benefit to lone parents with dependent children in receipt of supplementary benefit and (b) of the payment of child benefit to all lone parents with dependent children.
§ Mr. OrmeIf the payment of child benefit of £1 per week for the first children of lone parent families was not taken into account in assessing title to106W supplementary benefit the cost would be in the region of £18 million.
In common with other parents with dependent children, child benefit is already payable to all lone parents.