§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the value of the cash element included in the rates of family credit to compensate for the loss of (a) free school meals and (b) welfare milk.
§ Mr. ScottAn amount of £2.55 is included in each of the child credit rates and the same amount therefore goes to each child or young person in the family irrespective of whether it is in replacement of free school meals or free welfare milk.
§ Mrs. Beckettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the basis on which the assumption is made that take-up of family credit will be 20 per cent. higher than take-up of family income supplement.
§ Mr. ScottThe assumption reflects that used in the technical annex to the White Paper -Reform of Social Security" (Cmnd. 9691). Because family credit is a more generous benefit than family income supplement and will go to many more families we expect it to become much better known. There will also be extensive advertising and other publicity when the new scheme starts, as part of our communications strategy. Overall, therefore, potential claimants should become more aware of family credit and the generally higher levels of benefit which are payable.