§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the amount of the additional child allowances paid to the families of unemployed, sick and disabled people in November 1982; and what these would be if they were to be maintained at their November 1978 value.
§ Mr. NewtonIn November 1982 the rate of child dependency addition payable with sickness and unemployment benefit will be 30p. For invalidity benefit it will be £7.95.
As child dependency additions are affected by increases in child benefit it is necessary to consider these benefits together when calculating increases in their value. The total child allowance needed in November 1982 to maintain its November 1978 value is £8.02 for short-term benefits and £15.45 for long-term benefits*. As the November 1982 rate of child benefit is £5.85 the amount of the child dependency addition needed to maintain the November 1978 value would be £2.17, short-term, and £9.60, long-term.
Note:
* Based on the movement of the retail price index between November 1978 and November 1982, assuming a 9 per cent. increase in the index between November 1981 and November 1982.