§ Mr. Field asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those organisations he contacted to ask their views in the change to the monthly payments of child benefit.
§ Mrs. Chalker:I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 19 December 1980—[Vol. 996, c. 528.]
Mr. Field asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of organisations which gave evidence to his Department on the changes in the method of paying child benefit; and what was the number in favour and the number against the change to monthly payments.
§ Mrs. Chalker:The proposal for changing the frequency of paying child benefit was set out in the Government's reply to the "First Report of the Social Services Committee on Arrangements for Paying Social Security Benefits"—Cmnd 8106—published in December 1980. About 100 organisations submitted views to the Department on that proposal. Most of them objected to the proposal to pay child benefit every four weeks to most mothers. Criticisms varied, but the general theme running through many of the responses was that mothers should be able to make a voluntary choice between weekly or four-weekly payment.
Mr. Field asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail what arrangements he is making to advertise the rights of those parents who are ineligible to continue claiming child benefit weekly.
§ Mrs. Chalker:All mothers whose entitlement to child benefit begins before 15 March 1982 can choose to continue with weekly payment; mothers whose entitlement to child benefit begins on or after 15 March 1982 will normally be paid child benefit every four weeks in arrears. But if they are lone parents, or if the family is in receipt of supplementary benefit or family income supplement, or if they establish hardship arising out of four-weekly payment they can choose to be paid weekly. These rights will be explained in the child benefit leaflet, on the claim form, and in order book notes. In addition, a poster will be displayed in post offices during the change-over period informing mothers of the switch to four-weekly payment and setting out when child benefit can be paid weekly.