asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk North, Official Report, 28th February 1977, c. 94, if he will show by how much child benefit and/or residual child tax allowances would need to be increased in order to maintain their April 1976 value in April 1977.

The percentage changes necessary in the combined net value of child benefit and child tax allowances for 1977–78 in order to maintain the real net value to the basic-rate taxpayer of 1976–77 rates of child tax allowances and family allowances are as follows:

	Percentage change required
FIRST CHILD
Child aged not over 11	-1·3
Child aged over 11 but not over 16	+0·1
Child aged over 16	+1·1
EACH SUBSEQUENT CHILD
Child aged not over 11	+13·4
Child aged over 11 but not over 16	+13·4
Child aged over 16	+13·4

The figures are based on the increase in the retail price index between April 1976 and February 1977 and the 1976–77 basic rate of income tax.