§ 31. Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is now in a position to undertake the implementation of the Finer Report on single-parent families.
§ 33. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will now make a statement on the progress of consultations on the recommendations of the Finer Report.
§ Mrs. CastleProgress in implementating the many recommendations of the committee, which cover a wide field, is continuing, and my colleagues and I have made announcements as decisions have been reached. In particular I have just published the Child Benefit Bill which fulfils a major recommendation of the80W Finer Committee in extending a cash payment to first children, and does so for one-parent families one year in advance of the main scheme.
§ 40. Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will consider increasing the amount which may be earned by a woman in a one parent family before her allowances are reduced.
§ Mr. Alec JonesThe weekly amount that an unsupported mother can earn without her supplementary benefit being affected is to be increased from £2 to £4 later this year.