§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are prepared to effect an immediate review of family credit payments for those parents with care whose maintenance was reduced by the child support regulations approved in February of this year.
Viscount AstorWe keep all aspects of social security under constant review. The fact that family credit awards are fixed for 26 weeks works to the advantage of the majority of beneficiaries. Any reduction in maintenance during the period of a family credit award will be taken into account in assessing the renewal award. However, those families entitled to housing benefit and council tax benefit, or who become entitled following changes in maintenance, could recover up to 85 per cent. of any loss through an increase of those benefits.