§ Mr. Dickensasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the increase in the family allowance to be derived, assuming a flat rate payment, tax free, for every child including the first, by abolishing income tax relief for children and transferring the additional public revenue for this purpose; and what is the break-even point for an average family of husband, wife and two children under such a proposal.
§ Mr. TaverneThe family allowance under my hon. Friend's suggestion would be 22s. a week for each qualifying child, i.e. increases of 22s. for the first child in the family, 4s. for the second and 2s. for the third and subsequent children. The break-even point would vary widely according to the circumstances, including the ages of the children, but with two over the age of 16 it could be as low as £772 per annum.