§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of raising child benefit in April 1990 in line with the projection of the retail prices index between December 1988 and September 1989.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe index of retail prices (RPI) increased by 5.7 per cent. between December 1988 and September 1989. The net cost of increasing child benefit by 5.7 per cent. would be around £200 million.