HC Deb 02 February 1981 vol 998 c31W
Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the numbers of families in Great Britain and Northern Ireland who are in receipt of child benefit at the latest published date.

Mrs. Chalker

On 31 December 1979 there were 7,160,775 families receiving child benefit in Great Britain and 219,600 in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings to public funds he expects to result from the change in the method of payment of child benefit from weekly to monthly in arrears.

Mr. Rossi

I refer the hon. Member to the reply of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Dr. McDonald) on 15 January and to paragraph 24 of Cmnd. 8106. The proposals in that document are still matters for public consultation.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he proposes to change the method of payment of child benefit from weekly to monthly in arrears.

Mr. Rossi

The Government have made no decisions on the proposals in Cmnd. 8106, which are still matters for public consultation.