§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate the total net weekly income of a man with a wife and no children, assuming a weekly wage of £15, £20, £25, £30 and £35, respectively, and that the previous year's pay was at the same rates, allowing for relevant tax repayments and any welfare benefits in the following circumstances: for a week's work after 39 weeks at the appropriate rate and when unemployed after 39 weeks' employment and when qualifying for earnings-related supplement; and how many weeks of the year the take-home pay when out of work could exceed the take-home pay when at work.
§ Mr. NottThe figures are:
Weekly wage A B Number of weeks when take-home pay when out of work could exceed take-home pay when at work £ £ £ 15 13.85 13.26 Nil 20 17.09 20.00 11 25 20.34 21.73 18 30 23.59 23.25 Nil 35 26.84 24.03 Nil Column A shows the man's net weekly income when at work for week 40 in the tax year. Column B shows the income from unemployment benefit including earnings-related supplement for week 42 on the assumption that that is the third consecutive week of unemployment and where appropriate tax refunds. The figures take account of National Insurance contributions but they do not include any supplementary benefit that might be receivable during unemployment. The rates of unemployment benefit and National Insurance contributions are as proposed in the National Insurance and Supplementary Benefit Bill.