§ Mr. Tom Benyonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will remove the anomaly under which men who are left to bring up children alone, on the death or desertion of their wives, are penalised in comparison with other lone parents, by being ineligible for child benefit increases in respect of any period to the date they make the claim.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. Friend has now made the appropriate regulations—the Child Benefit (Determination of Claims and Questions) Amendment Regulations 1980, SI 1980, No. 15. They will come into operation on 1 February this year.