asked the Minister of Social Security what is the cost, actual or estimated, in the years 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68 and 1968–69 of allowances for children paid under National Insurance and the Supplementary Benefits Commission, respectively.
The estimated cost of allowances for children under the National Insurance and Industrial Injuries schemes is as follows:
| Financial Year | £ million | ||||
| 1965–66 | … | … | … | … | 50 |
| 1966–67 | … | … | … | … | 52 |
| 1967–68 | … | … | … | … | 61 |
| 1968–69 | … | … | … | … | 56 |
Similar estimates cannot be given for supplementary benefit (National Assistance before November, 1966), as it is not possible to isolate the amount paid in respect of children. Payments of supplementary benefit are made to cover the needs of the recipient and his dependants, and accordingly in cases where there are children the assessment has regard not only to any family allowance or insurance benefit in payment but also to other forms of income possessed by the recipient and his dependants.