§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the scales of family allowances, or equivalent cash benefits, payable in each of the EEC countries, as at 1st April 1976, expressed in £ sterling at the exchange rate applicable on that date.
§ Mr. OrmeI regret that the information for 1st April 1976 is not readily available. The table below gives the information requested as at 1st January 1976.
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SCALE OF FAMILY ALLOWANCES, OR EQUIVALENT CASH BENEFITS, PAYABLE MONTHLY IN EACH OF THE EEC COUNTRIES AS AT 1ST JANUARY 1976, EXPRESSED IN £ STERLING AT THE EXCHANGE RATE APPLICABLE AT THAT DATE United Kingdom Belgium* Denmark† France‡ Germany Republic of Ireland Italy Luxembourg§ Netherlands║ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ First child … Provision from April 1977 15.01 10.62 No provision 9.43 2.30 7.14 12.45 10.11 Second child … 6.50 23.82 10.62 16.47 13.20 3.60 7.14 12.45 17.72 Third child … 6.50 32.63 10.62 27.54 22.64 4.35 7.14 32.06 17.72 Fourth child … 6.50 33.27 10.62 27.54 22.64 4.35 7.14 32.06 23.62 Fifth child … 6.50 33.51 10.62 24.74 22.64 4.35 7.14 32.06 23.62 Sixth child … 6.50 33.51 10.62 24.74 22.64 4.35 7.14 32.06 26.16 Seventh child … 6.50 33.51 10.62 24.74 22.64 4.35 7.14 32.06 26.16 Eighth and each other child … 6.50 33.51 10.62 24.74 22.64 4.35 7.14 32.06 28.93 Notes:
* Additional allowances of up to £8.02 are payable for each child aged 6 or more, according to age.
† Higher rates are payable for children of pensioners or of single parents.
‡Additional allowances of up to £11.19 are payable for each child other than the first, if there are children aged 10 or over, according to age. Also additional allowances of up to £29.63 are payable for families with only one breadwinner.
§ Additional allowances of £2.81 are payable for each child over 12 years of age.
║ Double or treble allowances can be paid if a student, an apprentice or a disabled person is substantially maintained by his parents.
A meaningful comparison of allowances cannot be made without taking into account the local cost-of-living (especially that affecting the maintenance of children) and other factors which vary from country to country such as general wage levels, 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.
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