§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost of implementing the German system by paying child benefit to all young people up to the age of 18 years, but disqualifying them from supplementary allowances, other than in exceptional circumstances.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThere are a number of differences between the German and
306WThe tables giving a regional breakdown are lengthy and I am therefore sending the hon. Member a copy and placing them in the Library.
The attached table gives numbers for mental illness hospitals and units, mental handicap hospitals and units and special hospitals of compulsory admissions of subnormal and severely subnormal patients by legal status.
United Kingdom schemes, but if child benefit were to be paid for all young people up to the age of 18 years but they were disqualified from claiming supplementary allowances in their own right, other than in exceptional circumstances, the current net annual cost would be of the order of £100 million.