HC Deb 21 June 1979 vol 968 cc653-5W
Mr. R. C. Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many complaints he has had about administrative delays in paying child benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Prentice

Complaints received at the Child Benefit Centre are not analysed to show how many relate to administrative delays.

In general, letters of complaint addressed to me or my ministerial colleagues, including those received through hon. Members or the media, average about 0.02 per cent. of the cases handled each year. The level of complaints from all sources in the past month has been higher than average due to the effects of industrial action which coincided with the conversion to a new computer system and the final withdrawal of child tax allowance. The Child Benefit Centre is making every effort to complete the recovery from the effects of industrial action and improve its standard of service to the public.

Mr. Field

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the amount of extra net revenue given over to child support for each year since the introduction of the child interim benefit.

Mr. Prentice

On the basis of the introduction of child interim benefit and the changes in child benefit and child tax allowances listed in Cmnd. 6393 and succeeding public expenditure White Papers, the extra net revenue at 1978 survey prices is estimated to have been:

£ million
1976–77 30
1977–78 130
1978–79 700
1979–80 1,020

Mr. Peter Bottomley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the value in present-day terms of the family allowance combined with the child tax allowance at the introduction of the family allowance; and how it compares with the present or proposed level of child benefit for a second child.

Mr. Prentice

The value of child support to a standard rate taxpayer for the second child in August 1946, expressed at May 1979 prices, was £4.29 per week compared with the present level of child benefit of £4.00 per week.

However, the average earner in 1946 paid tax at a reduced rate and received less child support than the standard rate taxpayer. For a married man whose earnings were below the tax threshold the value of child support for the second child in August 1946, expressed at May 1979 prices, was £1.85 per week.