HC Deb 19 November 1974 vol 881 cc368-71W
Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT comparing family allowances from the first child onwards in the United Kingdom with those applying in the rest of the member States of the EEC.

Mr. O'Malley

Following is the information:

MONTHLY RATES OF FAMILY ALLOWANCES PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF SPECIFIED CHILDREN IN THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EEC, AS AT 1ST JANUARY 1974 EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE INDICATED (1)
United Kingdom (2) France (as at 1st August 1974) (3) (4) Germany (5) Italy Belgium (6) Netherlands Luxembourg Denmark Irish Republic
First child … No provision No provision No provision 8,060 Lire £5.71 893.50 B. Fr. £9.32 54.86 Fl. £8.37 756 L. Fr. £7.88 115 Kr. £7.89 £2.00
Second child … £3.90 131.96 Fr. £11.76 24 DM (7) £3.98 8,060 Lire £5.71 1,417.75 B. Fr. £14.78 73.06 Fl. £11.15 756 L. Fr. £7.88 115 Kr. £7.89 £3.00
Third child … £4.33 220.35 Fr. £19.63 60 DM £9.55 8,060 Lire £5.71 1,941.50 B. Fr. £20.25 73.06 Fl. £11.15 2,045 L. Fr. £21.32 115 Kr. £7.89 £3.75
Fourth child … £4.33 220.35 Fr. £19.63 60 DM £9.55 8,060 Lire £5.71 1,980.25 B. Fr. £20.65 97.50 Fl. £14.87 2,045 L. Fr. £21.32 115 Kr. £7.89 £3.75
Fifth child … £4.33 198.36 Fr. £17.67 70 DM £11.15 8,060 Lire £5.71 1,994.50 B. Fr. £20.80 97.50 Fl. £14.87 2,045 L. Fr. £21.32 115 Kr. £7.89 £3.75
Sixth child … £4.33 198.36 Fr. £17.67 70 DM £11.15 8,060 Lire £5.71 1,994.50 B. Fr. £20.80 107.90 Fl. £16.46 2,045 L. Fr £21.32 115 Kr. £7.89 £3.75
Seventh child … £4.33 198.36 Fr. £17.67 70 DM £11.15 8,060 Lire £5.71 1,994.50 B. Fr. £20.80 107.90 Fl. £16.46 2,045 L. Fr. £21.32 115 Kr. £7.89 £3.75
Eighth and subsequent children. … £4.33 198.36 Fr. £17.67 70 DM £11.15 8,060 Lire £5.71 1,994.50 B. Fr. £20.80 119.34 Fl. £18.21 2,045 L. Fr. £21.32 115 Kr. £7.89 £3.75

Notes:

(1) Sterling equivalents obtained by applying the exchange rates current on the dates in question.

(2) It is proposed to increase the rates to £6.50 a month per child, other than the first, from the week commencing 7th April 1975.

(3) Additional allowances of up to 242.05 Fr. (£21.56) payable for families with only one breadwinner.

(4) Additional allowance of up to 88.48 Fr. (£7.88) payable for each child other than the first, if there are children aged 10 or over, according to age.

(5) New allowances under a revised system, combining family allowances and tax concessions, will become payable from 1975.

(6) Additional allowances of up to 477.25 B. Fr. (£4.98) payable for each child, if there are children aged 6 or over, according to age.

(7) For families with only two children, allowance not payable if income exceeds 18,360 DM (£2,924) per annum.

A meaningful comparison of the allowances could not be made without taking into account the local cost of living (particularly that affecting the maintenance of children) and other factors which vary from country to country such as the levels of wages and taxation and the extent to which provision is made for other facilities in the form of free education, housing subsidies, medical care, and ante and post-natal welfare and advice services.