To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons aged 16 and 17 years respectively were in receipt of extended child benefit; how many were in receipt of bridging allowance for each month since September 1989; how many young people exhausted their entitlement to either extended child benefit or the eight weeks bridging allowance; and if he will make a statement.

The number of young people in receipt of bridging allowance each month since September 1989 is given in the table.Information showing the numbers of 16 and 17-year-olds who had exhausted their entitlement to bridging allowance in the 12-month period is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Child benefit, as with other social security matters, are the responsibility of Mr. Alex Wylie, chief executive of the Social Security Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies of his reply will be placed in the Library and Public Information Office.