asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will compare the net weekly spending power, based on the same assumptions as in his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North Official Report, 29th April 1977, columns 463–70, of a civil servant with two children earning £30, £40, £50, £60, £70, £80, £90 and £100 per week (a) when he is at work and (b) during the first weeks of sick leave.
The following table illustrates net weekly spending power on the basis of those assumptions. Apart from civil servants and members of Her Majesty's Forces, an estimated 10½ million employed men are members of occupational sick pay schemes, of whom about 6 million would have their pay made up in full at the commencement of sickness.
| MARRIED MAN WITH TWO CHILDREN AGED 4 AND 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| COMPARISON OF NET WEEKLY SPENDING POWER (a) IN EMPLOYMENT (b) IN EARLY WEEKS OF SICKNESS | ||||||||||||||||
At April 1977
| ||||||||||||||||
Normal gross earnings
| Sickness benefit (notional) | Earnings while sick
| Child benefit
| Tax payable
| National Insurance contribution
| Assumed housing costs
| Housing rebates
| Work expenses
| Family income supplement
| Free school meals
| Free welfare milk
| At April 1977 Net weekly spending power
| ||||
| (a) In employment | ||||||||||||||||
| £30 | … | … | … | … | — | — | 2·50 | — | 1·73 | 7·80 | 6·21 | 2·00 | 6·30 | 0·75 | 0·75 | 34·98 |
| £40 | … | … | … | … | — | — | 2·50 | 3·29 | 2·30 | 7·80 | 4·60 | 2·00 | 1·30 | 0·75 | 0·75 | 34·51 |
| £50 | … | … | … | … | — | — | 2·50 | 6·79 | 2·88 | 7·80 | 2·60 | 2·00 | — | — | 0·75 | 36·38 |
| £60 | … | … | … | … | — | — | 2·50 | 10·29 | 3·45 | 7·80 | 0·18 | 2·00 | — | — | — | 39·14 |
| £70 | … | … | … | … | — | — | 2·50 | 13·79 | 4·02 | 7·80 | — | 2·00 | — | — | — | 44·89 |
| £80 | … | … | … | … | — | — | 2·50 | 17·29 | 4·60 | 7·80 | — | 2·00 | — | — | — | 50·81 |
| £90 | … | … | … | … | — | — | 2·50 | 20·79 | 5·18 | 7·80 | — | 2·00 | — | — | — | 56·73 |
| £100 | … | … | … | … | — | — | 2·50 | 24·29 | 5·75 | 7·80 | — | 2·00 | — | — | — | 62·66 |
| (b) In early weeks of sickness | ||||||||||||||||
| £30 | … | … | … | … | 26·50 | 3·50 | 2·50 | — | — | 7·80 | 6·21 | — | 6·30 | 0·75 | 0·75 | 38·71 |
| £40 | … | … | … | … | 29·00 | 11·00 | 2·50 | — | — | 7·80 | 4·60 | — | 1·30 | 0·75 | 0·75 | 42·10 |
| £50 | … | … | … | … | 34·73 | 15·27 | 2·50 | — | 0·88 | 7·80 | 2·60 | — | — | — | 0·75 | 47·17 |
| £60 | … | … | … | … | 36·01 | 23·99 | 2·50 | — | 1·38 | 7·80 | 0·18 | — | — | — | — | 53·50 |
| £70 | … | … | … | … | 37·28 | 32·72 | 2·50 | 0·74 | 1·88 | 7·80 | — | — | — | — | — | 62·08 |
| £80 | … | … | … | … | 38·56 | 41·44 | 2·50 | 3·79 | 2·38 | 7·80 | — | — | — | — | — | 68·53 |
| £90 | … | … | … | … | 38·68 | 51·32 | 2·50 | 7·25 | 2·95 | 7·80 | — | — | — | — | — | 74·50 |
| £100 | … | … | … | … | 38·68 | 61·32 | 2·50 | 10·75 | 3·53 | 7·80 | — | — | — | — | — | 80·42 |