§ Mr. Newensasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take immediate steps to remedy the difficulties being encountered by parents seeking to communicate with child benefit centres when problems arise over the payment of child benefit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAfter a prolonged period of recovery from the effects of industrial action in 1979, the child benefit centre is now working normally, although delays are still bound to occur in some complicated cases. The notes in the child benefit order books ask parents to communicate with their local office in the first instance when they have inquiries or difficulties. It has never been intended that the child benefit centre should be a primary channel of public inquiry.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was (a) the expenditure on child benefit payments and (b) the cost of the administration of child benefit at current prices for the most recent year for which comparable figures are available.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIn 1978–79, the most recent year for which firm figures are
68Wcounty local authority areas. Responsibility for health services in Scotland and Wales rests with my center hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.
available, expenditure on child benefits was £1,798 million and the cost of administration, including the costs of other Government Departments, was £56 million.