§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now phase out the disparities in child benefit rates between war widows and other widows by bringing them up to the higher level for both and make suitable transitional arrangements.
§ Mr. NewtonThe rates of child benefit are the same for all. I assume the hon. Member has in mind the child dependency additions paid to widowed mothers and other long-term beneficiaries. We have no plans to raise these to the preferential rate paid to war widows.