§ Mr. William Rossasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the annual cost of increasing child benefit to the same level as supplementary benefit at the present rates of supplementary benefit.
§ Mr. NewtonThe estimated cost of increasing child benefit for all children to the level of the supplementary benefit rate for children up to age 10 is some £1½ billion in a full year. The estimated cost of increasing child benefit to the level of the supplementary benefit rate for children aged 11–15 is some E3¾ billion.