§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why an amount equal to the new child benefit is being deducted from the widowed mothers' allowance of those widows who are to receive it.
§ Mr. OrmeThe rates of increases of national insurance benefit for children have always reflected the amount of family allowances payable, and currently the rates for second and subsequent children are £1.50 less than the rate for the first child, for whom family allowances are not payable. In April the rates of increases of national insurance benefit payable for the first child of a family will be reduced by £1 to take account of the payment of child benefit for such children. The total benefit payable to widowed mothers will remain unchanged at £7.45 for each qualifying child.