asked the Minister for Social Welfare the value of family allowances for a two-child family at average earnings expressed as a percentage of gross earnings; and the relevant figure for each of the EEC countries.

On the basis of the increases in children's allowances provided for in the budget, which raised the rate for a two-child family from £11.50 monthly to £15 monthly, the value of family allowances for a two-child family expressed as a percentage of average industrial earnings is reckoned to be 3.1 per cent.

I regret that comparable current figures for each of the other EEC countries are not at present available to me.