Child Benefit (Hansard, 5 March 1990)

§ 8. Mr. McLeish
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review his decision not to uprate child benefit by the change in the retail prices index in April 1990.

§ 29. Mr. Ronnie Campbell
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review his decision not to uprate child benefit by the retail prices index change in April.

30. Mr. Alan W. Williams
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will review his decision not to uprate child benefit by the change in the retail prices index in April.

§ Mr. Newton
No.

§ 12. Mr. Cummings
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to means-test child benefit.

§ 52. Ms. Richardson
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to means-test child benefit.

§ 64. Mr. Battle
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to means-test child benefit.

§ Mr. Newton
No.

§ 22. Mr. Allen
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost in the current financial year of increasing child benefit to the same level in real terms as prevailed in 1979.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
About £540 million net.

§ 31. Mr. Andrew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the future uprating of child benefit.

§ 32. Mr. Macdonald
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the future uprating of child benefit.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
As the law requires, the rate of child benefit will continue to be reviewed each year as part 519W of the annual review of social security benefit rates, and decisions will be made in the light of circumstances at the time.

§ 42. Mr. Clay
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the take-up rate for child benefit.

§ 68. Mr. Eastham
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the take-up rate for child benefit.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
Around 98 per cent.

§ 45. Mr. Bernie Grant
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of uprating child benefit to bring it to the same level in real terms as it stood at in 1984.

§ 59. Mrs. Mahon
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the cost of uprating child benefit to bring it to the same level in real terms as it stood at in 1984.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms. Primarolo) earlier today.

§ 73. Mr. Fearn
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the present arrangements for paying child benefit.

§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard
Child benefit is normally paid to mothers every four weeks through their bank or building society account or four-weekly or weekly by order book.