Examination of Witnesses (Questions 520
- 523)
TUESDAY 20 MARCH 2007
MR JOHN
DICKIE AND
DR PAUL
DORNAN
Q520 Mr Walker:
Can you give some examples of what it would cost to increase the
child allowance per child by a fiver? Do you have any idea?
Mr Dickie: Equalising child benefit
for all children would be 1.7 billion.
Q521 Mr Walker:
Bearing in mind that the tax take is increasing £36 billion
this year, it is not an impossible sum to find within an uplift
of 36 billion in the tax take which is going from 517 to 553.
To equalise child benefit for every child would be 1.6 billion?
Mr Dickie: 1.7 billion.
Q522 Mr Walker:
Across the country, not just Scotland?
Mr Dickie: Across the country,
yes. Add to that we need to see additional investment in child
tax credit as well. That is when you start getting to four or
five billion and that is an important part of it as well. It is
not just the child benefit; it is the overall package of investment.
It has been estimated at 0.3% of GDP. It is a perfectly achievable
level of investment but it does require political will. I suppose
that would be our one key message. That is needed now if we are
going to reach the 2010 target.
Q523 Chairman:
Can I thank the witnesses for their evidence this afternoon? Before
I declare the meeting closed, would you like to say anything in
conclusion, perhaps on areas which we have not covered during
our questioning?
Mr Dickie: I think we have managed
to get our piece in across the board. Thanks very much for inviting
us.
Chairman: On behalf of the Committee,
your evidence was very informative and will be very helpful for
us when we compile the report. Thank you very much for your attendance.
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