§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the gross and net cost of raising454W child benefit in a full financial year in line with the rise in tax thresholds in 1988–89, assuming that they are uprated according to the statutory formula.
§ Mr. ScottThe rise in the retail prices index between December 1986 and December 1987 was 3.7 per cent. If child benefit were to be uprated in April 1988 by 3.7 per cent. the rate would be £7.50 per week. In 1988–89 the additional gross cost of this would be £156 million and the additional net cost would be just over £100 million.