§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce his decision concerning the uprating of child benefit in April; and if he will take steps to index-link child benefit with inflation rates, as with other social security benefits, in the future.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinA decision whether to announce a proposal to uprate child benefit will be made after I have conducted the annual review required by statute. I have no proposals to amend the provisions in the Child Benefit Act 1975 dealing with the uprating of child benefit.