§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider seeking to amend the Child Benefit Act in such a way as to put child benefit on the same basis as child additions to national insurance and supplementary benefit, for the purpose of annual rerating.
§ Mr. OrmeI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 8th November 1976.—[Vol. 919, c.53.]
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table comparing the total values in November 1977, for a family with three children aged 16, 14 and 12 years, of (a) child benefit, (b) short-term 470W national insurance child additions and (c) children's supplementary benefit rates for the ages stated.
§ Mr. OrmeThe amounts included in the calculation of entitlement to benefit at the end of November for children of the ages specified will be as follows:
Age Child Benefit Increase of National Insurance short-term benefit Supplementary Benefit £ £ £ 16 … 1.00 3.50 8.90 14 … 1.50 3.00 7.40 12 … 1.50 3.00 6.10 Total … 4.00* 9.50† 22.40‡ * In addition child tax allowances at the present rate of tax would be worth £4.52 to basic rate taxpayers. †Child benefit of £4 would be paid in addition to this. ‡Child benefit of £4 and any increase of national insurance benefit payable would be offset against this.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the total gross cost of paying child benefit at £15 for all children aged 14 years and over and in full-time education, up to 19 years of age, £10 for all children aged 5–13 years and £5 for children aged under 5 years.