§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Minister of Social Security what increases in family allowances would be necessary to reduce the number of families affected by the 3W wage stop by 50 per cent 75 per cent., and 90 per cent., respectively.
§ Mr. PentlandI regret this information is not available. It will be some time before we can get the necessary particulars of the families affected by the wage stop under the new scheme of supplementary benefits which starts today.
§ Mrs. Lena Jegerasked the Minister of Social Security what information she has from international sources as to which of the Common Market countries have higher family allowances than Great Britain, as a proportion of average earnings; and in which of these countries the allowances are subject to a means test.
§ Miss HerbisonFamily allowances are higher in all the six Common Market countries than in this country, both absolutely and as a proportion of average earnings. There is a means test for family allowances only in the Federal Republic of Germany in respect of the allowance for the second child in any family where there are no more than two children and in a Netherlands scheme for self-employed persons in respect of the allowance for the first two children in any family.