§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of(a) families with children and (b) children which would not be brought into income-related benefits if child benefit were increased in line with inflation in 1990–91.
§ Mr. ScottThe effects of not increasing child benefit should not be viewed in isolation. For example, it is important to have regard to the extra help which will be made available to families with children. However, in very broad terms, the decision not to uprate child benefit this year is expected to increase the family credit caseload by up to 5,000 in 1990–91; by a few thousand for income support; and by an even smaller number for housing benefit. It is estimated that these families may include up to 16,000 children overall.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of uprating child benefit in line with inflation in 1990–91.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardTo increase the rate of child benefit in line with the increase of 7.6 per cent. in the retail prices index between September 1988 and September 1989 would cost around £250 million net of savings on other benefits.