§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many, and which, of the increases in benefits announced on 27 March were less than 11.5 per cent.; and if any benefits of dependants were decreased.
§ Mr. PrenticeApart from a few cases where the increase amounts to slightly less than 11.5 per cent. as a result of rounding—provided for by section 126(4) of the Social Security Act 1975, the increase is less than 11.5 per cent. only in the case of injury benefit for a beneficiary over 18. This is because, also under the provisions of section 126(4), which provides for particular benefits to continue to differ from each other by the same amount, the rate of injury benefit is maintained at £2.75 above the rate of sickness benefit. All increases for children have been increased by 16.5 per cent., but the amount of the increase in the rate of child benefit, 75p has been offset in each case. As a result, national insurance child dependency additions payable at the short-term rate have been reduced by 45p a week. In all cases, however, there has been an increase in child support overall.