asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he estimates to have been the cost of supplying voucher books for child benefit to widowed mothers with one child and of adjusting the widowed mothers' allowance books of the same widows by a reduction equivalent to the new benefit.

Widows with one child will receive payment of child benefit by separate order book in the same way as all other persons with one or more children. The cost of supplying a child benefit order book is estimated to be about 85p. The adjustment of the widowed mother's allowance order book is made by computer and the cost is minimal.