Vol. 529 No. 1
874 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the equality between parents of twins and parents of triplets (details supplied); and his further views on whether the different payments indicate discrimination against twins as compared to triplets. [30521/00]
Prior to the introduction of the Social Welfare Act 1998, child benefit was payable at the normal rate for each child where three or more children were born together. In the case of twins, child benefit was paid at the normal rate but a grant of £500 was payable at the birth of twins and further grants of £500 were payable when the twins reached the ages of four and 12.
In fulfilment of our pre-election commitments, I introduced two key additional measures in the Social Welfare Act, 1998 designed to improve the overall package of benefits available to parents of multiple births. Firstly, the rate of child benefit payable in respect of twins was increased to 150% of the normal child benefit rate. Secondly, the £500 grants, which previously were confined to families with twins, were extended to include also families with multiple births of three or more children.
Both these measures took effect in September, 1998 at a full year cost of some £4.8 million. I would not accept that the current arrangements are discriminatory against any particular family type. It is not the purpose of child benefit to cover the costs of child-rearing, rather to assist parents with such costs. The payment of child benefit at 150% of the normal rate in the case of twins and double the normal rate in the case of triplets, gives recognition within the child benefit scheme of the special nature of such births and the additional costs associated with them. The cost of providing for double child benefit payment for twins is estimated at some £10.2 million in a full year, based on the improved rates recently announced in Budget 2001.
