§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households with children who had below half average income would have had incomes above that threshold in(a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 if the April 1998 rates of child benefit had been raised for all children in the family by 50 per cent. and linked with earnings; and what the net extra cost would have been for (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000 after allowing for (A) the increases made by the Government in (1) child benefit and (2) WFTC and (B) changes in benefits for lone parents. [131953]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe simulation model used in the Treasury cannot easily be used to look back historically at what would have happened in specific years under different policies.