§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why form CH(A)297D(TO), issued by the Child Benefit Centre, asks parents to say whether the child is expected to sit the Certificate of Secondary Education, the General Certificate of Education, O level, the Scottish Certificate of Education, O grade, the General Certificate of Education, A level, the Scottish Certificate of Education, higher grade, and other examinations, and when; how parents can make such a forecast in view of the 22W fact that trained and experienced professionals in schools and careers services are not always able to do so; what relevance this labelling of a child's potential has to the payment of child benefit, bearing in mind that the parent has already declared on the form the date to which the child is expected to remain in full-time education; and to what purpose his Department intends to put this information.
§ Mr. OrmeChild benefit is payable after age 16, and up to age 19, only where a child is receiving full-time non-advanced education. Although many children may now leave school at the end of May, some others take examinations later and continued payment of child benefit will depend on the dates of the examinations. Experience has shown that it is necessary for the Department to know what examinations, if any, the child is expected to take because parents do not always appreciate that some examinations take place after May. Without this additional information, there could therefore be a loss of benefit.