asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the total eligible to submit claims for child benefit in each of the groups (a) 13 to 19 years, (b) 8 to 12 years, (c) 3 to 8 years, and (d) up to 2 years had done so by the end of 1976.

It is estimated that, of families with one child, the proportions who had claimed child benefit by the end of 1976 were (a) child aged 13 to 19, about 45 per cent., (b) 8 to 12 years, about 75 per cent., (c) 3 to 8 years and (d) up to 2 years, about 70 per cent.