asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the net weekly incomes after tax of single men and of married couples with one and two children earning approximately the national average wage in the first quarter of 1977; and what will be their net weekly incomes after tax and child benefit at the same level of earnings in accordance with the initial changes proposed in his Budget.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th April 1977; Vol. 929, c. 423], gave the following information:

NET WEEKLY INCOME AFTER TAX
	At 1976–1977 tax rates	At 1977–1978* tax rates
	£	£
Single man	55·97	56·44
Married couple with one child not over 11	60·35	61·59†
Married couple with two children not over 11	62·99†	64·23†
* After the initial changes proposed in the Budget.
† Includes family allowance for 1976–77 and child benefit for 1977–78.

The estimate of average earnings used is the average at April 1976 of full-time male adult workers in all occupations as shown by the New Earnings Survey, updated to January 1977 by the monthly index of average earnings.