§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the comparative administrative costs of child allowances made available as(a) cash payments by (i) order and (ii) direct deposit in family accounts and (b) tax allowances to (i) one parent and (ii) to either parent, noting the burden in each case on employers. [41137]
§ Mr. JackThe total administration costs of child benefit and one-parent benefit were estimated to be £132 million in 1993–94, the latest year for which information is available. It is not possible to split the costs between payments made by order book and those made by automated credit transfer.
The administrative costs of the other items listed would depend on the nature of such schemes.
§ Mr. BottomleyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for a cost-effective, fair solution to the problem of a taxable child cash allowance being worth more to a married couple with one person earning £100,000 than to a married couple with each earning £15,000. [41140]
§ Mr. JackIt would be inappropriate for me to comment on tax matters at this point in the Budget cycle.