§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services 46W if she will now announce the level of child benefit to be paid to children in single-parent families from next April.
§ Mr. O'MalleySection 16(3) of the Child Benefit Act 1975 already provides that the interim benefit shall be payable at the same weekly rate as an allowance under the Family Allowance Act for one child, which stands at £1.50 a week.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the most recent estimates of the number of single-parent families in the United Kingdom, and indicate the number in each of the main categories, such as the result of the death of the second parent, and the separation of parents.
§ Mr. O'MalleyI would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn and Hatfield (Mrs. Hayman) on 16th October.—[Vol. 897, c.768–9.] The sources quoted in that answer gives further information for Great Britain of the type mentioned. The information available for the United Kingdom is less complete.