§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was (a) the total number of child benefit recipients in 1982–83, (b) the total cost of administering the child benefit provisions in 1982–83, (c) the average administrative cost per recipient of child benefit, (d) the median administrative cost (i.e., the standard cost) per recipient of child benefit and (e) the extent to which it is anticipated these costs will fall over the next five years.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe information requested is as follows:
- (a) The estimated average number of families receiving child benefit and one parent benefit at any one time in 1982–83 was 7,104,000.
- (b) The estimated cost of administering child benefit and one parent benefit in 1982–83 was £96¾ million.
- (c) The estimated average administrative cost per family was £13.60.
- (d) The median administrative cost is not available.
- (e) We aim to achieve a steady reduction in the real unit costs of all our administrative activities, but what can be achieved over a period as long as five years depends on too many imponderables for a specific target to be set.