§ Q43. Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Prime Minister whether the Government will make it their policy to maintain the value of child benefit over the lifetime of the present Parliament.
§ Mr. WhitelawI have been asked to reply.
In July 1980 my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Social Services gave an undertaking that, subject to economic and other circumstances, the value of child benefit would be maintained at its November 1980 value and that remains our intention. The increase in the rate of child benefit to £5.85 from November 1982 announced recently reflects the forecast rise in the retail price index between November 1981 and November 1982 and restores the 2 per cent. shortfall in the value of the benefit which occurred between November 1980 and November 1981.