§ Dr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children whose mothers receive child benefit for them belong to families whose income is (a) below the tax threshold, (b) subject to tax at the basic rate and (c) subject to tax at each higher rate.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that information in the form requested is not available.
There is evidence that the level of take up of child benefit is very high, and it is known that there are about 1.5 million children in families whose income is below the tax threshold; there are about 10.4 million in families whose income is subject to tax at the basic rate and about 0.8 million in families whose income is subject to tax at higher rates. Figures for each higher rate of tax are not available.