asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why a civil servant earning £60 per week, with rent of £6·40 and rates of £2, has a net weekly spending power of £38·25 when at work and of £55 when sick, yet a member of the Armed Forces, also earning £60 and with identical housing costs, has a spending power of £39·59 both when he is at work and when he is sick;(2) why a civil servant earning £60 per week, with rent of £6·40 and rates of £2, has a net weekly spending power of £38·25 when at work and of £55 when sick, while an agricultural worker with the same earnings and housing costs has spending power of £40, when at work but £4·94 less than the civil servant when sick, namely £50·06.

I would refer the hon. Member to the explanatory notes attached to my right hon. Friend's reply to him on 19th April.—[Vol. 930, c. 74–6.]