asked the Minister for the Public Service the number of civil servants entitled to public service chidren's allowances at (i) 31 December 1979 and (ii) the latest date for which figures are available.

On 31 December 1979, the number of serving civil servants eligible for children's allowances was 11,631. The corresponding number for 1 August 1981 — the latest date for which figures are available — was 11,460 (the number actually receiving the allowances was 3,266).