§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients of child benefit have so far indicated that they wish to continue to receive payment weekly.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe figure is 1.7 million. About 3.5 million mothers will now have received order books containing an option card, but it will be some time yet before the overall percentage of mothers choosing to stay on weekly payment is clear. A special check of the first batch of order books issued containing an option card shows that after 11 weeks just under 60 per cent. of those mothers have opted for weekly payment.