To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures showing (a) what percentage of public expenditure on child benefit goes to families with equivalent income below the mean and (b) what percentage of families receiving child benefit have equivalent incomes below the mean, after housing costs in both cases.

The proportion of families receiving child benefit with household incomes below the mean of equivalised income after housing costs has changed little since 1979 and remains in the region of 70 per cent. About 74 per cent. of total Government expenditure on child benefit went to these families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will consider making applications for child benefit more widely available through post offices, citizens advice bureaux and other public places.

There are three different claim forms for child benefit; one for a first child, another for newly born subsequent children and a third for other children who join the family. These forms are available from any social security office on request by post, telephone or personal call. In addition, leaflet FB8 "Babies and benefits", which is widely available to expectant and nursing mothers, contains a coupon which can be used to obtain the appropriate form. These arrangements, which are kept under review, are intended to ensure that claimants receive the correct form.