§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1), further to his answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South on 6th December 1977 that the estimated cost of child benefits next year is £1,650 million, what estimate he has made of the proportion of this sum that will go to families where the main wageearner receives a wage of over, respectively, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 a week;
(2), further to his answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South on 6th December 1977 that the estimated cost of children benefits in 1978–79 will be £1,650 million, what estimate he has made of the proportion of this sum that will go to families where the main wage-earner is in full-time employment.
§ Mr. DeakinsNone, as the economic circumstances and size of families do not need to be known to determine the cost of child benefit. No suitable data is available on which any estimate might be made of the proportion of child benefit that will be paid in 1978–79 to wage earners either as a group or in various earnings bands.