§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the(a) gross and (b) net cost of raising child benefit for all children, in real terms (i) to its 1987–88 level and (b) to its pre 1985–86 level.
§ Mr. JackHad child benefit been increased at each general uprating of benefits in line with movements in the index of retail prices, the April 1987 rate of £7.25 and November 1984 rate of £6.85 would become £9.55 and £10 respectively from April 1991.
The additional full year costs in 1991–92 of paying £9.55 per child, instead of the current rates of £9.25 for the eldest eligible child and £7.50 for each other child, would be about £685 million gross and £470 million net of normal adjustments to other benefits. The corresponding costs of paying £10 would be £970 million gross and £665 million net.
§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the(a) gross and (b) net cost of raising child benefit by 10p in 1992–93 and 1993–94 for all children.
§ Mr. JackIt has been estimated that the extra costs in each year would be around £63 million gross and £45 million net.