§ Sir B. Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what is the number of staff required to administer the payment of family allowances; what is the total administrative expense; and 108W what will be the total cost of the allowances during 1970–71.
§ Mr. DeanThe equivalent of 1,660 full-time staff are employed in my Department on the administration of family allowances; the cost of administration, including charges by the Post Office for the encashment of the weekly orders and the cost of services provided by other Government Departments, is about £9 million a year; and the estimated total cost of the allowances in 1970–71 is £345 million.