§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures comparing child benefits, expressed in local currencies and in £ sterling, for families with up to four children in each of the member States of the EEC and in Sweden, also indicating (a) whether or not the benefits are taxable, (b) whether or not they are increased if the parents are in receipt of unemployment sickness benefits and (c) whether or not child tax relief is available.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe rates of child benefit or similar family benefits payable in each of the member States of the European Community as at 1548W January 1979 are given in the comparative social security tables for member States of the European Communities which are compiled by the Department. A copy of the tables is in the Library of the House. The rates are quoted both in local currency and sterling; the exchange rates used are stated in the introduction.
The tables also make clear that in France at 1 January 1979 the rate of sickness benefit was increased after 30 days if there were three or more dependent children; in the Republic of Ireland and in the United Kingdom, increases of both unemployment benefit and sickness benefit were payable for each dependent child.
I understand that the rate of family allowance in Sweden at 1 January 1979 was 208.33 Swedish Krone (£23.84) per child per month. As far as I am aware, unemployment and sickness benefits in Sweden are not increased in respect of dependent children.
I understand that on 1 January 1979, family allowances/child benefits were not taxable in any of the European Community countries or Sweden. Child tax relief was available in Belgium, France, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and in the United Kingdom.