§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate to what level child benefits should be raised to equal the child support, given in family allowances and child tax allowances, to a one, two, three and four-child family, respectively, in 1946, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1971 and 1972.
§ Mr. OrmeThe information is given in the following table: 589W
590W
THE COMBINED VALUE FOR FAMILY ALLOWANCE/CHILD BENEFIT PLUS THE CHILD TAX ALLOWANCE (FOR CHILDREN UNDER 11) TO TAXPAYERS (AT THE STANDARD RATE) ADJUSTED TO CONSTANT DECEMBER 1977 PRICES Actual rates Equivalent at December 1977 prices* Amount by which actual December 1977 rate is higher or lower than equivalent rates Year (December) 1 child 2 children 3 children 4 children 1 child 2 children 3 children 4 children 1 child 2 children 3 children 4 children £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 1946 … … … … 0.43 1.02 1.60 2.19 2.79 6.61 10.37 14.19 -0.51 -1.72 -2.87 -4.07 1950 … … … … 0.52 1.20 1.88 2.56 2.91 6.73 10.54 14.35 -0.63 -1.84 -3.04 -4.23 1955 … … … … 0.82 1.90 2.99 4.07 3.47 8.04 12.65 17.21 -1.19 -3.15 -5.15 -7.09 1960 … … … … 0.75 1.77 2.86 3.96 2.84 6.70 10.82 14.99 -0.56 -1.81 -3.32 -4.87 1965 … … … … 0.91 2.10 3.35 4.60 2.88 6.65 10.61 14.57 -0.60 -1.76 -3.11 -4.45 1970 … … … … 0.91 2.10 3.36 4.62 2.27 5.23 8.37 11.51 +0.01 -0.34 -0.87 -1.39 1971 … … … … 1.16 2.63 4.17 5.71 2.65 6.01 9.53 13.05 -0.37 -1.12 -2.03 -2.93 1972 … … … … 1.16 2.63 4.17 5.71 2.46 5.58 8.85 12.12 -0.18 -0.69 -1.35 -2.00 1977 … … … … 2.28 4.89 7.50 10.12 2.28 4.89 7.50 10.12 — — — — * Based on movement in General Index of Retail Prices. The figures shown do not, of course, reflect the April 1978 child benefit increases, which represent a real and significant improvement in child support.