§ Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to vary the level of income support, community charge benefit or housing benefit for people under 25 years of age.
§ Miss WiddecombeWe have no plans to do so although, of course, all benefits are kept under continual review.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total cost of increasing overall child support, child benefit and child dependency increase,62W to 1979 levels for (a) war widows, (b) national insurance widows, (c) people on invalidity benefits and (d) pensioners.
§ Mr. JackThe costs of increasing overall child support, child benefit and child dependency increase for these beneficiaries are shown in the table. Except for war widows, where there is minimal eligibility for such benefits, these figures are net of corresponding savings on income-related benefits.
£ million (a) War Widows Children's allowance 1.0 Child Benefit 0.2 Total 1.2 (b) National Insurance Widows Child dependency increase 9.7 Child Benefit 2.4 Total 12.1 (c) People on invalidity benefits Child dependency increase 25.8 Child Benefit 5.2 Total 31.0 (d) Retirement pensioners Child dependency increase 4.1 Child Benefit 0.7 Total 4.8