§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the savings would be between November 1981 and November 1982 if the proposals to pay child benefit monthly contained in Cmnd. 8106 were to beimplemented according to his proposed timetable.
§ Mrs. ChalkerSavings in administrative costs would not be achieved in the first financial year of changing to four weekly payment of child benefit. In the year in which such a change was made, some £50 million of expenditure on child benefit would be deferred to the following financial year.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update to November 1981 the information on child benefit given in his reply to the hon. Member for Kensington (Sir B. Rhys Williams) on 10 March 1980, Official Report, c. 428–29.
§ Mrs. ChalkerOn the basis of the Industry Act forecast of the movement of prices from quarter four, 1980, to quarter four, 1981, of 11 per cent., child benefit would have to be increased next November from its present level of £4.75 by:
- a. 71 pence for children under 11 years, £1.05 for 11 to 15 year olds, and £1.34 for those aged 16 and over, to restore the combined value of child benefit of £3 and residual child tax allowances to a standard rate taxpayer at November 1978.
- b. 93 pence for children of all ages to restore the value of £4 at April 1979.