§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give his estimate of the annual savings that would be lost if all parents were given the right to opt for weekly payments of child benefit if they so wish when the switch to four-weekly payments takes place.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe savings in administrative costs would depend on how many beneficiaries chose to be paid child benefit four-weekly. If about 80 per cent. chose payment at this frequency, DHSS administrative costs would eventually be reduced by the amount shown in paragraph 24 of Cmnd. 8106.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he plans to carry out a further survey of attitudes towards four-weekly payments of child benefit; and, if so, if he will undertake to publish the responses in the Official Report.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThere are no such plans at present, but I am keeping the matter under review.