§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the proportion of gross national product devoted to child support, that is family allowances and child tax allowances or child benefit, in each member of the European Economic Community at the latest date for which information is available.
§ Mr. BiffenI regret that information in the form requested is not readily available. My hon. Friend may, however, find it helpful to consult the recent publication
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§ Mr. Peter ReesThe information requested is as follows:
by the Commission of the European Communities, "The European Social Budget 1980", especially tableIII.25, which contains information on cash transfers for 1975. In addition the OECD publishes a document which compares taxation and transfers for a typical married couple with two children in each member country, the most recent edition of which is entitled "The 1978 Tax/Benefit Position of a Typical Worker in OECD Member Countries". The 1977 publication," The Treatment of Family Units in OECD Member Countries under Tax and Transfer Systems", contains information for 1974 and may be of interest.