§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of increasing family allowances to £3 per child, including the first, assuming that the increase is made tax free and child tax allowances are withdrawn.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownIn terms of 1973–74 incomes, and on the assumption that other social security benefits for children were reduced, the cost would be about £840 million a year.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will print in the OFFICIAL REPORT the value of gamily allowances payments for two-, three- and four-child families as a proportion of average earnings in October for each year since 1948.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe information requested is as follows:
FAMILY ALLOWANCES FOR TWO, THREE AND FOUR CHILD FAMILIES AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE EARNINGS* FOR EACH YEAR SINCE 1948 Year Two Child Family Three Child Family Four Child Family October— … 1948 … 3.6 7.3 10.9 1949 … 3.5 7.0 10.5 1950 … 3.3 6.6 10.0 1951 … 3.0 6.0 9.0 1952 … 4.5 9.0 13.4 1953 … 4.2 8.5 12.7 1954 … 3.9 7.8 11.7 1955 … 3.6 7.2 10.8 1956 … 3.4 7.6 11.8 1957 … 3.2 7.2 11.1 1958 … 3.1 7.0 10.9 1959 … 3.0 6.6 10.3 1960 … 2.8 6.2 9.6 1961 … 2.6 5.9 9.1 1962 … 2.5 5.7 8.8 1963 … 2.4 5.4 8.4 1964 … 2.2 5.0 7.7 1965 … 2.0 4.6 7.1 1966 … 2.0 4.4 6.9 1967 … 1.9 4.2 7.7 1968 … 3.9 8.3 12.6 1969 … 3.6 7.7 11.7 1970 … 3.2 6.8 10.3 1971 … 2.9 6.1 9.4 1972 … 2.5 5.3 8.1 1973 … 2.2 4.6 7.1 *Average earnings of male workers in manufacturing and some of the principal non-manufacturing industries.