§ Mr. SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate what level child benefit would have been in April had it been uprated this year in line with the retail price index, taking into account the error made in the retail price index between February 1986 and October 1987 inclusive.
§ Mr ScottThe general uprating of benefits is calculated from the published retail prices index. Had child benefit been uprated on this basis, the rate from April 1988 would have been £7.55 a week. The rate would have been the same if the error in the retail price index had been taken into account.
District Health Authority Revenue Expenditure Capital Expenditure 1982–83 £ thousands 1986–87 £ thousands Cash terms increase per cent. 1982–83 £ thousands 1986–87 £ thousands Cash terms increase/(decrease) per cent. Brighton 45,102 59,102 31 1,598 3,030 89 Eastbourne 34,657 43,660 26 2,471 5,445 120 Hastings 23,460 29,745 27 1,214 3,206 164 South East Kent 28,198 37,647 33 1,767 3,884 119 Canterbury and Thanet 49,788 60,072 20 1,863 6,498 248 Dartford and Gravesham 39,710 46,850 17 2,437 1,835 (24) Maidstone 29,481 37,401 26 7,539 2,445 (67) Medway 36,447 49,751 36 2,549 5,625 120 Tunbridge Wells 38,849 47,567 22 3,643 4,063 11 Bexley 30,536 38,012 24 1,612 2,190 35 Greenwich 54,159 61,441 13 1,405 3,886 176