§ Mr. Goldingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will, when assessing total income for family income supplement and other social security purposes, exclude occupational obligatory contributions to superannuation schemes.
§ Sir K. JosephIncome for the purposes of the family income supplements scheme consists of gross earnings before deductions. This fact is taken into account when fixing the prescribed amounts which determine the levels of income below which families of different sizes can qualify for family income supplement. Where entitlement to a benefit depends on net income—as, for example, in the case of exemption from prescription charges or free welfare foods—superannuation contributions are deducted from the gross earnings.