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Family Incomes

Volume 930: debated on Tuesday 19 April 1977

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asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will compare the net weekly spending power of an employee of the British Gas Corporation, with a wife and two children, for a week's work after 39 weeks in the tax year, and when sick and in receipt of sickness benefit and tax refunds, assuming normal earnings of £40, £60, £80 and £100 per week, respectively, with that of an agricultural worker with similar family circumstances;

(2) if he will compare the net weekly spending power of a civil servant with a wife and two children, for a week's work after 39 weeks in the tax year, and when sick and in receipt of sickness benefit and tax refunds, assuming normal earnings of £40, £60, £80 and £100 per week, respectively, with, that of an agricultural worker with similar family circumstances when sick;

(3) if he will publish tables showing the take-home pay of a civil servant with a wife and two children, with earnings of £40, £60, £80 and £100 ( a) when at work, ( b) when sick, and ( c) when in receipt of any tax refunds;

(4) if he will publish tables showing the net weekly spending power of an employee of the British Gas Corporation, with a wife and two children, for a week's work after 39 weeks in the tax year, and when in receipt of sickness benefit after 39 weeks, and with normal earnings of £40, £60, £80 and £100, respectively, and while in receipt of any tax refunds;

(5) if he will publish tables showing the take-home pay of a Service man with a wife and two children, with earnings of £40, £60, £80 and £100 ( a) when at work, ( b) when sick, and ( c) when in receipt of any tax refunds;

(6) if he will compare the net weekly spending power of a member of the Armed Forces, with a wife and two children, for a week's work after 39 weeks in the tax year, and when sick and in receipt of sickness benefit and tax refunds, assuming normal earnings of £40, £60, £80 and £100 per week, respectively;

(7) if he will compare the net weekly spending power of a teacher with a wife and two children for a week's work after 39 weeks in the tax year, and when sick and in receipt of sickness benefit and tax refunds, assuming normal earnings of £40 £60, £80 and £100 per week, respectively.

In view of the disproportionate expense involved I regret that I cannot provide answers to these Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now bring up to date the net weekly spending power figures published in reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North—[Official Report, 10th November 1975, c. 540; amended, Official Report, 8th March 1976, c. 96]—showing the relative financial position in and out of work for each family grouping, on the assumption that earnings or previous earnings were £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week, respectively, assuming (a) that the initial Budget proposals are brought into force, and (b) that the conditional Budget proposals are brought into force.

I will let the hon. Member have the available information as soon as possible.