Hackney South and Shoreditch MP celebrates 60 years of support for children.

Meg Hillier MP today joined a leading charity in celebrating 60 years of support for children. The Hackney South and Shoreditch MP and the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) are marking the anniversary of child benefit, and its predecessor family allowances, which were first paid in August 1946.

14,475 Families in the Hackney South and Shoreditch constituency currently receive child benefit, to help meet the costs of bringing up 26,415 children.

At the moment, child benefit is worth £17.45 per week for the first child and £11.70 per week for the second and subsequent children.

Meg Hillier said: ‘Family allowances were introduced sixty years ago to help parents meet the costs of bringing up their children and thousands of families in my constituency continue to value the support that child benefit brings them.