§ 42. Sir George Youngasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now announce the level of child benefit to be introduced in April 1977.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether 234W the Government propose to consult organisations representing Commonwealth immigrants on their policy under Section 13 of the Child Benefit Act 1975 on the payment of child benefit to persons resident in Great Britain with children outside Great Britain.
§ Mr. EnnalsI shall consider this at the appropriate stage.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Government remain committed to the introduction of the new system of child benefits in full in April 1977; and, if so, when legislative changes in the future pattern of child tax allowances may be expected in accordance with the undertakings given by the previous Minister of State recorded in the Official Report on 7th July 1975 (column 262).
§ Mr. EnnalsI have nothing to add to earlier statements.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many millions of pounds will be transferred from taxpaying families to non-taxpaying families if child benefit is introduced at no extra cost.
§ Mr. EnnalsIf the amount of child tax allowance subsumed were the rate for children under 11, the amount transferred under a nil-cost scheme would probably be of the order of £40 million a year. This estimate is, however, subject to a fairly wide margin of error.