§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her latest estimate of the number of children for whom child benefit will become payable when it is introduced.
§ Mr. MeacherNearly 14 million.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the percentage by which child benefit would have to be reduced in order to pay an additional benefit of twice the reduced figure to an estimated 100,000 severely handicapped children.
§ Mr. MeacherFor a particular group of 100,000 children to receive, on top of the child benefit payable to all other children, an additional benefit equal to twice that amount, the general rate would have to be reduced by 1.4 per cent.