§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost in a full year at 1982–83 benefit rates of raising child benefit to (a) the level of child support provided for long-term national insurance beneficiaries, (b) the level child support would have been had the uprating method not been changed and (c) the supplementary benefit children's scale rates; and in each case what the net cost would be if child benefit were made taxable.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information requested is as follows:
- (a) £1,300 million
- (b) £2,100 million
- (c) (i) under 11 years rate—£1,500 million or (ii) 11–15 year rate—£3,900 million.
The net effect if child benefit at the proposed rates were taxable would be (a) £175 million saving, (b) £350 million cost, (c) (i) slight saving and (ii) £1,500 million cost respectively.