Dr. Karina Doorley:

Administratively, I am sure it is quite complicated. However, we saw how fast everything moved during the pandemic. I am sure the capabilities are there within the Department. If I can be perfectly frank, the easiest and most efficient way to reduce the number of children at risk of poverty is simply to make cash transfers. That is what this second tier of child benefit will do. It does not come without complications. We would need to be wary of work incentives. Are we damaging work incentives to the extent that it would increase child poverty at source or reduce the number of parents in work or reduce their income, so that we actually ended up with more work to do? That is a serious concern. If we make this one benefit out of a number of different kinds of benefits that are in place, are we going to end up with some households that actually lose out as a result? Those are two very big complications and considerations for the second tier of child benefit. While it is eminently possible, we would have to make sure that it achieves our targets on all fronts.