§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the supplementary benefit scale rates for children aged five to 10 years.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. To simplify the supplementary benefit scale rates, the number of rates for children was reduced from five to three in 1980. One rate for children under 11 replaced the previous two rates for children under five and children aged five to 10. The real value of the rate for children under five was increased. To increase the rate for children aged five to 10 would mean returning to two rates for children under 11, which would be an unnecessary complication. Since November 1978 the real value of the scale rate for children aged five to 10 has increased by 5 per cent.