§ 57. Mr. Stan Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what child support was payable to a person on unemployment benefit in November 1979 and in November 1982, in each case expressed in terms of November 1982 prices; and what was the percentage drop in value between these two dates.
§ Mr. NewtonIn November 1979, child benefit and the child dependency addition to unemployment benefit totalled £5.70 per child, equivalent to £7.82 in terms of November 1982 prices. The corresponding amount in November 1982 was £6.15, which was 21.4 per cent. lower. Where an unemployment benefit claimant is entitled also to supplementary allowance, the relevant factor is the scale rates for children; and these at least maintained their value, in real terms, between those dates and were in some cases substantially higher, depending on the age of the child.