Emergancy Budget

Child benefit is being frozen for the next three years from April 2011.

The rate of child benefit will remain at £20.30 per week for the eldest child and £13.40 per week for each other child in a family for the next three years.

Also confirmed by the Chancellor that the one-off tax-free payment of £190 for every mother-to-be who is at least 25 weeks pregnant would be scraped and the Sure Start Maternity Grant will be limited to the first child only and that lone parents will be expected to look for work when their first child goes to school.