<Tr> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> 780,000 </Td> <Td> 6.8% </Td> </Tr> <P> The Social Security Act 1986 provided for Family Income Supplement to be replaced with Family Credit, a similar scheme . </P> <P> The Child Benefit Bill was introduced in 1975 by Barbara Castle, introducing for the first time a universal payment, paid for each child, doubling the number of children within its scope . Like the family allowance, which it replaced, the new benefit was not means tested; an attempt by the Callaghan government to introduce this was thwarted in 1976 when cabinet papers were leaked to the Child Poverty Action Group . </P> <P> The rate payable was £ 1 / week for the first and £ 1.50 for each subsequent child . An addition 50p was payable to lone - parent families . Unlike the family allowance, provision was made for the rate to be uprated, at the Secretary of State's discretion, each year . By the end of 1978 the rate had been increased to £ 3 / week for each child, with an additional £ 2 / week payable to lone - parent families . </P>

When did child benefit start in the uk