§ Q19. Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Prime Minister whether it is Government policy to increase incentives to work by reducing the gap between child benefit and the national insurance or supplementary benefit for children.
§ The Prime MinisterIn considering incentives to work we recognise that the level of child benefit is a significant factor. We also recognise that any increase in child benefit is expensive, each 10p costing about £56 million, at a time when we are critically examining public expenditure.