§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what provision he has made to avoid clawback on invalidity benefit for mothers eligible for the £1 per week increase in child benefit for first children;
(2) what proposals he has to avoid clawing back all or part of the £1 per week increase in child allowance for the first-born from those already eligible for overlapping benefits from other welfare payments.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardIt is proposed that the £1 per week increase in child benefit for the elder, eldest or only child in a family should be taken into account in determining the rate of benefit or rate of increase of benefit payable in respect of that child. It is intended that the adjustment should be made under regulations to be laid before this House in due course.
Year Residential Care Homes Nursing Homes Total December 1979 — — 12,000 December 1980 — — 13,000 December 1981 — — 13,000 December 1982 — — 16,000 December 1983 — — 26,000 December 1984 — — 42,000 December 1985 55,000 15,000 70,000 February 1986 70,000 20,000 90,000 August 1986 75,000 28,000 103,000 May 1987 84,000 32,000 117,000 May 1988 103,000 44,000 147,000 May 1989 119,000 56,000 176,000 May 1990 125,000 64,000 189,000 Notes:
1. Prior to December 1985 the figures are not sufficiently reliable for the total to be subdivided into residents in residential care homes and nursing homes, and therefore only the overall total has been given.
2. Figures for November 1979-December 1984 are taken from the annual statistical enquiry, figures for December 1985-May 1990 are taken from the quarterly statistical enquiry.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will state the residential care benefit maximum for each year since 1979 and index this rate against inflation, taking 1979 as the base;
(2) if he will state the nursing home benefit maximum for each year since 1979 and index this rate against inflation, taking 1979 as the base.
238WThe effect of the proposal is that the net rate of child's special allowance, guardian's allowance and child dependency increases of unemployment, sickness, invalidity and widow's benefits, retirement pension, severe disablement and invalid care allowances and unemployability supplement for the child for whom the higher rate of child benefit is payable would be increased to £9.70 per week from April 1991.
The proposal is based on the general principle that rates of benefit should reflect the overall level of support payable for a child. This principle has been adopted by successive Governments since 1948.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultations he undertook with specialist welfare organisations before announcing the form and content of his £1 per week uprating in child benefit for the first-born.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardAlthough my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State did not consult specifically about the decision to increase child benefit for the only, elder or eldest eligible child from next April, we regularly meet with and receive representations and views about social security, including child benefit, from many welfare organisations.