§ 24. Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many railwaymen qualify for family income supplement.
§ 32. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has to reduce the effect of the poverty wage trap in the case of the current claim by members of the three railway unicorns, as a result of the loss of means-tested benefits forgone.
§ 34. Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to reduce the impact of the low wage trap on the basic rate of the lowest paid railway men in the present wage claim.
§ Sir K. JosephBy regular upratings of benefits we have ensured that, broadly speaking. pay awards in line with national averages have not, over the year, reduced a family's entitlements.
§ 33. Mr. Buchananasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what net effect he estimates will be produced for the average paid railwayman by the reduced entitlement to means-tested benefit.
§ 36. Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what size of pay increases he estimates railway workers at various grades will require in order to escape the effects of the wage trap from loss of means-tested benefits.
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§ Sir K. JosephNo such estimates can be made, because the answer will depend in each case on such factors as the composition of the railwayman's family and their housing costs.
§ 35. Mr. David Stoddartasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has about the take up of means-tested benefits by railway men which may be expected to alter the net gains achieved in the present wage claim.
§ Sir K. JosephNo information is available about take-up of means-tested benefits by railwaymen.
§ Mr. William Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what means-tested benefits he estimates a railway worker earning £18.50p per week would lose if he gained, respectively, £2, £3 or £4 gross pay increase from the present wage claim.
§ Sir K. JosephNo such estimates can be made.
The effect of a wage award on a family's entitlement to benefits depends not only on the benefits the family is receiving but on such factors as how many children there are and of what age, and the family's housing costs and working expenses.