§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be, at current and at 1978 prices, the net weekly gain or loss per child in a four-child family, by comparison with April 1975, when child benefit is increased to £2.30, after taking into account both the increase in the charge for school dinners and the reduction in child tax allowances, and assuming that the family has earnings equal to (a) 50 per cent., (b) 100 per cent., (c) 200 per cent. and (d) 300 per cent. of average male manual earnings.
§ Mr. OrmeNo such comparison will be possible until the tax arrangements operating in 1978–79 are known, and details of average earnings in April 1978 are available.