§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cumulative amount of extra spending over and above ordinary uprating on(a) supplementary benefit and income support child rates, (b) the family premium and (c) family credit in gross and net terms since 1979.
§ Mr. BurtThe information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the sum total of extra help given to low-income families since the 1988 reforms will, from next April, be worth around £1 billion a year.