§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the cost of child benefits in 1983–84, and in 1984–85, respectively; and what percentage of child benefits goes to families in receipt of single or joint gross income in excess, respectively, of (a) £5,000, (b) £6,000, (c) £7,000, (d) £8,000, (e) £9,000, (f) £10,000, (g) £15,000 and (h) £20,000 in the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 9 February 1984, c. 755]: An up-to-date estimate of the cost of child benefit in 1983–84 and 1984–85 will be given in the public expenditure White Paper which has been published today.
The information sought in the second half of the question is not available in the form requested. The following figures are estimates derived from the family expenditure survey of 1981 and the breakdown does not relate to annual income, since weekly income may vary throughout the year.
Gross weekly income £ Percentage of families with children at each level. Virtually 100 per cent, of families receive child benefit Per cent. Less than 100 22.6 100—119.99 9.5 120—139.99 11.1 140—159.99 10.8 160—179.99 9.7 180—199.99 8.4 200—299.99 20.2 300—399.99 5.2 400 or more 2.5 The figures do not take account of the number of children in each family.