§ Q27. Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Prime Minister if she will consider an increase in child benefit as part of the Government anti-inflation strategy.
§ Mr. WhitelawI have been asked to reply.
Child benefit will be increased by 50p a week for each child from 23 November at a net cost of about £280 million in a full year. We shall review the rate again early next year in the context of the Budget strategy as a whole.