§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate at which total child support for families receiving (a) short-term benefits and (b) long-term benefits has dropped since 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonThe rates of child support—child benefit and child dependency additions—in November 1979 and November 1981 are as follows together with the cash and percentage increases in these rates. During the same period, there was an increase of 29.1 per cent. in the retail price index.
Short-term benefits
- November 1979 £.5.70
- November 1981 £6.05—increase of £0.35 or 6.1 per cent.
Long-term benefits
- November 1979 £11.10
- November 1981 £12.95—increase of £1.85 or 16.7 per cent.
Between November 1979 and November 1981 supplementary benefit additions for children increased by between 26.4 per cent. and 27.1 per cent. The amount of this increase was affected by the two per cent. shortfall in the November 1981 uprating which is to be made good in November 1982.