§ Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Secretary of Stale for Social Services in what circumstances child benefit is payable to the mothers of young people who have left school.
§ Mr. FowlerChild benefit is at present payable in respect of a young person who has left school up to the end 303W of the school holiday which follows the term in which education ceased. The dates on which payment ceases are the first Monday in January, the Monday following Easter Monday or the first Monday in September, as appropriate. It is, however, difficult to justify continuing payment of child benefit for young people who get full-time work during the holiday period. Under regulations which are being laid tomorrow, therefore, child benefit will no longer be paid for any week during which a young person works full-time, or is on a youth opportunities programme course. These regulations will come into effect on 31 May, so as to apply to all young people leaving school this summer. In order to give the maximum amount of notice to the parents concerned, who will be individually notified, the regulations have been made without prior reference to the social security advisory committee. They will, however, now be referred to that Committee whose report will be laid before Parliament in due course. It is estimated that this change will save around £10 million in a full year.