HC Deb 25 July 1997 vol 298 cc776-7W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make it her policy that the combined real value of child dependency addition and child benefit for the child of a widowed mother is at least maintained at its present real level in future upratings. [10567]

Mr. Keith Bradley

We are committee to retaining universal child benefit from birth to age 16, and to uprate it in line with prices. The rates of all benefits are reviewed annually.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the combined value of child dependency addition and child benefit for the child of a widowed mother(a) in cash terms, (b) in real terms and (c) as a percentage of average earnings, in November 1979 and at each subsequent uprating date. [10566]

Mr. Denham

The information is in the tables:

Child benefit and widowed mothers allowance child dependency increase for first child
Uprating date Cash paid (£ per week) Cash as a percentage of average earnings at each uprating date Real value at April 1997 prices (£ per week) Real value as a percentage of average earnings at April 1997
November 1979 11.10 11.0 28.79 7.8
November 1980 12.25 10.2 27.56 7.5
November 1981 12.95 9.8 26.02 7.1

Child benefit and widowed mothers allowance child dependency increase for first child
Uprating date Cash paid (£ per week) Cash as a percentage of average earnings at each uprating date Real value at April 1997 prices (£ per week) Real value as a percentage of average earnings at April 1997
November 1982 13.80 9.7 26.09 7.1
November 1983 14.10 9.0 25.43 6.9
November 1984 14.50 8.7 24.92 6.8
November 1985 15.05 8.4 24.52 6.7
July 1986 15.15 8.0 24.28 6.6
April 1987 15.30 7.7 23.49 6.4
April 1988 15.65 7.2 23.12 6.3
April 1989 16.20 6.8 22.15 6.0
April 1990 16.90 6.4 21.11 5.8
April 1991 17.95 6.3 21.08 5.7
October 1991 18.95 6.5 21.92 6.0
April 1992 19.40 6.4 21.85 6.0
April 1993 19.80 6.2 22.01 6.0
April 1994 20.00 6.1 21.68 5.9
April 1995 20.25 6.0 21.24 5.8
April 1996 20.70 5.9 21.20 5.8
April 1997 20.95 5.7 20.95 5.7

Child benefit and widowed mothers allowance child dependency increase for subsequent children
Uprating date Amount paid (£ per week) Cash as a percentage of average earnings at each uprating date Real value at April 1997 prices (£ per week) Real value as percentage of average earnings at April 1997
April 1991 17.95 6.3 21.08 5.7
October 1991 18.20 6.2 21.06 5.7
April 1992 18.65 6.1 21.00 5.7
April 1993 19.05 6.0 21.18 5.8
April 1994 19.25 5.9 20.87 5.7
April 1995 19.50 5.8 20.46 5.6
April 1996 19.95 5.7 20.43 5.6
April 1997 20.20 5.5 20.20 5.5

1. The average earnings of full time adult employees was calculated using the "New Earnings Survey" and "Average Earnings Index", both produced by the Office of National Statistics.

2. The retail prices index (all items) was used to put Child Benefit and WMA child dependency addition into real terms as at April 1997. This was then compared with the provisional average earnings for April 1997 to give the percentage quoted.