HC Deb 18 January 1982 vol 16 cc48-9W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to the reply of the Under-Secretary of State on 7 December, Official Report, c. 304, if he will estimate the short-term savings that will be made in 1982–83, as a result of the switch to paying child benefit four-weekly in arrears, over and above any administrative savings.

Mrs. Chalker

The once-and-for-all benefit saving in 1982–83 will be about £56 million on the assumption that half the mothers who could opt to continue weekly payments will do so.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present level of child benefit; how many (a) families, and (b) children draw the benefit; and what is the annual cost to the Exchequer.

Mrs. Chalker

The current rate of child benefit is £5.25. It is being paid in respect of 13.2 million children in 7.2 million families. The annual cost in 1981–82 will be £3, 500 million. Of these families 470, 000 also receive one-parent benefit at the rate of £3.30 a week and an annual cost of about £80 million.

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