§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the level of supplementary allowance paid for children compares with the amount paid by the average local authority children's department to foster parents; and if he will consider matching these levels.
§ Mr. DeanThe current scale rates for children taken into account in assessing entitlement to supplementary benefit are as follows:
143W
£ Aged less than 16 but not less than 13 years 3.00 Aged less than 13 but not less than 11 years 2.45 Aged less than 11 but not less than 5 years 2.00 Aged less than 5 years 1.70 The latest available figure (1969–70) for the average payment made by local authorities for foster children is £3.56 a week per child. We have no plans for increasing the supplementary benefit rates to match this level but they are, of course, kept under close review.