§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what total savings will have accrued by the end of the fiscal year 1982–83 by letting child benefit fall behind inflation since 1979.
§ Mr. NewtonThe real value of child benefit has been maintained since the November 1980 uprating. If the November 1980 uprating had maintained the April 1979 value of the benefit, it is estimated that total expenditure on child benefit in the fiscal years 1980–81 to 1982–83 inclusive wouldd have been £10,945 million instead of £10,275 million. Offsetting savings on other social security benefits woul have amounted to about £130 million.