§ Mrs. BeckettTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is expected to be the cost in 1988–89 of the £2.55 per week per child compensation for the loss of free school meals and free welfare milk in the family credit rates;
(2) what proportion of the £220 million extra spending on family credit mentioned in the Official Report, 27 October, column 181, is accounted for by the compensation for the loss of free school meals and free welfare milk.
§ Mr. PortilloThe net cost (after allowing for the cost of free school meals and free welfare milk which would otherwise arise) is around £65 million. This represents around 30 per cent. of the extra spending on family credit.