What London mums say

Housewife Wendy Anelow and insurance broker husband Jim live in Kensington.

Their children are Benjamin, nine, who gets £2 per week pocket money; Henry, six, who receives £1.50, and George, five, who is given £1 a week to spend. George said: "I'm saving up to buy a guitar."

'My son gets karate classes, not money'

Housewife Geraldine Connolly, from Notting Hill, has two children, Lia, 20 - who works for her money - and Alfie, nine.

Mrs Connolly said: "I pay £10 per week for Alfie's karate classes and he gets sweets every day - he's not getting pocket money as well."

'We want them to buy books, not sweets'

Francine Collins and banker husband Craig, from west London, have three children: Lloyd, seven, Estelle, four, and Giselle, two.

They receive no regular pocket money but get occasional handouts. Mrs Collins, a housewife, said: "Lloyd gets more because he's older and just started maths, so he wants to learn about change.

"We don't encourage them to spend it on sweets; we want them to buy books and crayons."

'The boys will get more as they grow older'

Amanda Harris, a housewife, and orchestra manager Peter have four children. Michael, three, is too young for pocket money but Peter, eight, gets £1.50 a week. Leanne, 17, and Chantelle, 13, get £5 a week.

"The boys will get more as they grow up," said Mrs Harris. "The girls spend all their money on magazines and make-up. Peter buys sweets."