HC Deb 18 May 2000 vol 350 cc228-9W
Ms Kelly

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the(a) forecast cost of introducing the Income Support supplement to Child Benefit and (b) projected number of claimant families on a year by year basis. [122611]

Angela Eagle

There is no Income Support supplement to Child Benefit. However, the above inflation increases to Child Benefit from April 1999 and April 2000 were reflected in Income Support to ensure that the families on the lowest incomes benefit from the increases. The information contained in the table shows the estimated cost and number of claimant families.

Estimated cost (£ million) Number of claimant families
1999–2000 80 1,230
2000–01 140 1,215
2001–02 160 1,200

Notes:

1. Figures based on Budget 2000 forecast.

Child Benefit expenditure 1997–98 to 2001–02
Total expenditure (£000) Amount of total expenditure attributable to increase since 1997 (£000) Total number of children (Thousand) Total number of children in respect of whom payment made (Thousand)
1997–98 7,088 138 12,729 12,729
1998–99 7,295 352 12,716 12,716
1999–2000 8,216 1,371 12,689 12,689
2000–01 8,531 1,724 12,763 12,763
2001–02 8,804 2,017 12,754 12,754

Notes:

1. Increased expenditure includes both Retail Prices Index and discretionary uprating.

2. Figures based on Budget 2000 forecast.

3. Caseload figures are consistent with the Departmental Report 2000.