§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current real value of child benefit as against the level in April 1987; and what would be the annual cost of restoring child benefit to its April 1987 level(a) assuming a similar increase in child dependancy additions paid with income-related benefits and (b) assuming no other benefit increases.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe April 1987 rate of child benefit —£7.25—would be worth £8.91 in April 1990 on the basis of the movement in the index of retail prices between those months. The costs of such an increase would be £1,030 million gross and £780 million net.