§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, regarding a married man with two children, 7–10 years of age, in a council house with an average rent, earning a gross weekly wage of £18 in April 1970 thereafter increased according to national average earnings, what was his gross income, income net of tax and national insurance and net real income, rent, family allowances, free school meals at April 1970 and each successive six-month period, assuming respectively, he did and did not draw family income supplement, rent rebate and rate rebate.
§ Mr. DeanFollowing is the information:
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INCOME AND DEDUCTIONS (IN £) FOR A MARRIED MAN WITH TWO CHILDREN (AGED 7 AND 10 IN JANUARY 1970) 1970 1971 1972 1973 April October April October April October April October* Gross earnings … … … … 18.00 19.18 20.13 21.14 22.42 24.36 25.42 27.33 Family allowances … … … … 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.90 0.90 Gross income … … … … 18.90 20.08 21.03 22.04 23.32 25.26 26.32 28.23 Net income† … … … … 16.70 17.46 18.95 19.59 21.45 22.68 23.39 24.67 Real net income‡ … … … … 16.70 16.98 17.32 17.42 18.44 18.70 18.41 18.85 Rent§ … … … … 2.32 2.32 2.57 2.57 2.88 3.13 3.38 3.63 Rates║ … … … … 0.80 0.80 0.85 0.85 0.95 0.95 1.15 1.15 Rent rebate … … … … 0.12 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.03 1.59 1.92 Notes: * Earnings and prices for October 1973 are estimated. † Gross income less income tax and national insurance contributions. ‡ Deflated to April 1970 by the Retail Prices Index. § Rents up to and including April 1972 are average rents for 3-bedroom council houses. Rent for later dates are estimated, taking into account the effects of the Housing Finance Act 1972. ║ Estimated as approximately one-third of rent. The family were not entitled to family income supplement or rate rebate on any of the dates mentioned. On the assumption that working expenses were about 50p a deek they were entitled to free school meals for both children in October 1971, whether or not rent rebate was taken up, and to free school meals for one child in October 1972 and October 1973 if rent rebate was not taken up. They were not entitled to free school meals on the other dates. The value of the free school meals is 60p a week for each child during school terms.