§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the mothers who will be affected by the proposals in Cmnd. 8106 in respect of child benefit payments now cash their order books more frequently than every four weeks; and what are the latest figures for the proportion of (a) these mothers and (b) all mothers who cash their child benefit weekly.
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§ Mrs. Chalker[pursuant to her reply, 20 March, c. 199–200]: If the Government implemented the proposals in Cmnd. 8106, the payment patterns for child benefit would change for most mothers. Some would be able to choose weekly payment by order books, others would choose payment direct into a bank account and others would have their benefit paid four-weekly by order book. It is impossible to relate future patterns of payment that might emerge to current available information on the intervals at which mothers collect their child benefit. Moreover, encashment patterns are only an approximate guide to the appropriate period for paying benefit; and the market research summarised in Cmnd. 8106 indicated that only 18 per cent. of mothers said that it would be "very difficult" or "impossible" to manage if child benefit was paid every four weeks. Whereas in June 1980 about 45 per cent. of mothers appeared to be cashing their child benefit weekly, a similar sample of cases during one week in December 1980, showed that some 48 per cent. were cashing their child benefit weekly just prior to Christmas. However, normal patterns of cashing benefits can be altered by proximity to public holidays and especially to Christmas.