HC Deb 18 January 1974 vol 867 cc201-2W
Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that hairdressers in the London borough of Barking and elsewhere have been ordered to close their establishments on Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week from 30th December; and if he will authorise them to close instead on the first three weekdays.

Mr. Iremonger

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements he proposes for providing electricity to given zones on different three-day periods in successive weeks, so that tradesmen whose principal business is done on particular weekdays are not obliged always to be shut on those days.

Mr. David Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of evidence that hardship will be caused to customers and shopkeepers by the regulations that the three days on which shops may use electricity must be consecutive, whether he will reconsider this requirement having in mind that a change would not use any more electricity and would give the public more regular service and eliminate the

NET PAY (£)
Annual Earnings October 1970 October 1971 October 1972 October 1973
A A B A B A B
£1,000 863.00 897.82 820.61 928.74 786.64 928.10 715.56
£2,000 1,524.09 1,561.30 1,427.03 1,602.31 1,357.16 1,599.42 1,233.15
£3,000 2,217.10 2,271.33 2,076.00 2,299.35 1,947.55 2,281.50 1,759.04
£5,000 3,527.68 3,639.39 3,326.40 3,667.60 3,106.46 3,681.77 2,838.64
£8,000 5,064.20 5,341.15 4,881.81 5,338.35 4,521.58 5,590.06 4,309.94
£10,000 5,912.81 6,259.87 5,721.52 6,214.82 5,263.95 6,557.56 5,055.88
£20,000 7,598.81 9,619.10 8,791.86 9,236.17 7,823.04 10,083.81 7,774.62
Notes:
Column A shows the net pay at October each year. Column B shows the same net pay at October 1970 prices. The general index of retail prices for October in the years referred to has been used in all these calculations. Where appropriate, surtax and also the 10 per cent. surcharge on 1972–73 surtax liability have I seen deducted in calculating net pay.
It has been assumed that the men with £1,000 and £2,000 per year are not contracted out of the Graduated Pension Scheme, and that those with £3,000 and above are contracted out.
The figures of net pay do not include family allowances (£46.80 for all years) but the tax on the family allowance and the family allowance deduction ("clawback") have been taken into account Where it is to is the taxpayer's advantage to forgo family allowance, tax has been calculated on that basis.

disadvantage to shop keepers allocated the "flat" first half of the week.

Mr. Emery

Food shops will be exempted from the order. All other shops may use electricity for part of every day from Monday to Friday and during both morning and afternoon on Saturday. The times will be 0930 to 1230 and 1430 to 1700 hours. Shops which are normally open on Sunday will also be allowed to use electricity within certain hours on that day. The order which will be made will indicate which shops can use electricity in the morning and which in the afternoon. The system will rotate each week. Under this arrangement shops must accept the risk of disconnections during the times when the use of electricity is permitted.