§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (I) how much will be saved from the clawback of the increase in child benefit of £1 from parents' income support;
(2) how many (a) single parents and (b) parents did not receive the child benefit increase of £ 1 because they are in receipt of income support and have had the increase deducted from their income support.
§ Miss WiddecombeIt is estimated that approximately(a) 850,000 single parents and (b) 400,000 other families on income support have received the £1 increase in child benefit for the only, eldest or elder child from April. The payment of this extra amount has been taken into account for income support purposes in the normal way. It is estimated that the extra cost of disregarding the increase in child benefit in income support would be £65 million a year.
Income support rates were also increased from April, and it is estimated that over 99 per cent. of income support recipients will have seen an overall increase in their 331W benefits. Families will receive a further increase in child benefit in October and, exceptionally, the family premium and child allowances will be increased at the same time so that those on income-related benefits gain the advantage of that increase.
Source: 1989 ASE uprated to 1991–92 price and benefit levels.