§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the increase in net spending power on the same basis as figures published in reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 22nd November 1977, column 683, of a man with a wife and two children when his wage is increased from £75 per week by (a) 10 per cent. and (b) 15 per cent.; and if he will compare this with the net weekly spending power of a similar family when unemployed (a) when in receipt of tax refunds, and (b) when all tax refunds have been repaid.
742Wreceive it. The number of unemployed persons who would be taken off supplementary benefit is estimated to be of the order of 400,000. The changes would not, of course, benefit those persons who are unable to meet the contribution conditions for unemployment benefit, nor those who would have a continuing entitlement to supplementary benefit.