§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services at what level child benefit will have to be paid in April and November of the current year to maintain its real value compared with April and November 1978 and April 1979.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe information requested for November 1982, assuming 10 per cent. inflation between November 1981 and November 1982, is as follows:
£ To maintain the real value at April 1978 3.99 *(5.08) To maintain the real value at November 1978 5.00 *(6.05) To maintain the real value at April 1979 6.30 * The figures in brackets include an adjustment for child tax allowances.
I regret that it is not possible to provide similar information for April 1982 as a forecast of inflation between November 1981 and that date has not been made.
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of families claiming child benefit; and if he will subdivide this total according to whether the family has one, two, three, four or more children.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe number of families receiving child benefit in Great Britain in mid April 1981 (the latest date for which information is available in the form requested) is:
million Families with 1 child 2.9 Families with 2 children 3.0 Families with 3 children 1.0 Families with 4 or more children 0.3 Total families 7.2
§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 5 February, Official Report, column 233, he will break down the figure of 1.7 million by region.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 11 February 1982.—[Vol. 17, c.452].