Written question asked by Ruth Kelly (Labour) on Monday, 15 May 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 May 2000. It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Thursday, 18 May 2000 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what was the (a) total and (b) forecast level of expenditure since 1997 on increasing child benefit; and in respect of how many children payments were made. - Including table.

Answer: Ms Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the (a) total and (b) forecast level of expenditure since 1997 on increasing Child Benefit; and in respect of how many children payments were made. [122599] Angela Eagle: The information is in the table. Child Benefit expenditure 1997-98 to 2001-02 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Total expenditure (£000) Amount of total Total number of children Total number of children expenditure attributable (Thousand) in respect of whom to increase since 1997 payment made (Thousand) (£000) 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.

Secondary information