§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy to uprate the amount of child benefit fully to compensate for the change in the retail price index since the date of the last increase; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottWe have no plans to depart from the policy of successive Governments which has been to determine the rate of child benefit as a part of the annual social security uprating exercise. The universal nature of child benefit places a substantial burden on all taxpayers and the rate at which it is paid must be assessed in the light of total expenditure on social security and the specific need for a balanced programme of financial support for families.