The Deputy is referring to a research report published by the Economic and Social Research Institute in December 1988 entitled Equivalence Scales and Costs of Children. The report estimated that in 1987 the weekly cost of rearing a child under five years of age was £19.60 and the weekly cost of rearing a child between five and 14 years of age was £28.20. The corresponding weekly costs in 1992 terms are approximately £22.90 and £32.90.
From July 1992 the combined weekly values of payments to various social welfare beneficiaries by way of the increases of their weekly payments for their children and their child benefit entitlements will range from £16.15 to £19.85 for one child and from £32.30 to £39.70 for two children.
The ESRI report also estimated that the weekly costs of rearing two children aged under five years is £28.30, in 1992 terms. From July 1992 all weekly social welfare payments for two children will exceed this amount, from a minimum of £32.20 to a maximum of £39.70.
In this year's budget, the position of families was improved considerably. All weekly payments will be increased by 4 per cent from July, which will more than maintain the real value of payments. In the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, the Government stated their commitment to reach the priority rate recommended by the Commission on Social Welfare by 1993. The lowest rates of payment will be increased by £3 per week from July, in line with this commitment.
Other measures to benefit families include the increase in the income limits for the family income supplement, which will mean increased payments of between £9 and £11 per week for most recipients. Payments under the back to school clothing and footwear scheme have also been increased by £10 per child to £35 for a child at primary school and to £50 for a child at second level school. This allowance is paid to recipients of long term social welfare payments for children up to 21 years of age who are in full-time education.
The Government are very aware of the particular needs of families and, under the terms of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, an additional £69 million in 1990 terms will be devoted to child income support over the next ten years. The appropriate measures will be adopted in the light of up to date information on child and family circumstances and taking account of available resources. The issue of the level of child income support itself and the research in the area, including the report referred to by the Deputy, will be considered in this context.