HC Deb 27 June 1979 vol 969 cc206-7W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study has been undertaken by his Department of the effects of the earnings bar on invalidity pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Prentice

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the arrangements permitting invalidity pensioners to undertake limited work which is therapeutic in nature. My right hon. Friend's Department has commissioned a research study of the working of these arrangements and

Qualifying level
Number of children in family* Amount† As percentage of gross average earnings‡ As percentage of net average earnings‡
£ per cent. per cent.
November 1970 … … 1 14.35 45.0 58.4
2 16.19 50.8 65.1
4 22.64 71.0 87.2
November 1971 … … 1 15.89 45.8 59.2
2 17.94 51.7 65.5
4 24.82 71.5 85.5
November 1972 … … 1 17.62 43.9 56.4
2 19.98 49.8 62.8
4 27.56 68.1 82.3
November 1973 … … 1 19.61 43.1 56.3
2 22.22 48.8 62.8
4 30.51 67.1 82.5
November 1974 … … 1 22.65 40.2 54.7
2 25.67 45.5 60.6
4 35.34 62.7 79.1
November 1975 … … 1 28.25 41.7 58.4
2 32.26 47.6 65.7
4 44.42 65.5 86.6
November 1976 … … 1 33.76 44.5 62.2
2 38.39 50.6 69.2
4 52.48 69.1 89.9
November 1977 … … 1 38.36 46.3 63.2
2 43.71 52.8 70.7
4 59.71 72.1 92.3
November 1978 … … 1 41.35 43.3 59.7
2 47.05 49.3 67.3
4 64.40 67.4 89.6
Notes
*The children's ages are assumed to be: 3 in the 1-child family; 3 and 8 in the 2-child family; 3, 8 11 and 16 in the 4-child family.
†The amount included for rent in the qualifying level is the average rent for each size of family as estimated by the Department of the Environment.
‡The gross average earnings figures used are the new earnings survey estimates of the average weekly earnings of full-time adult male employees in all occupations at November each year. The net average earnings figures used are gross average earnings less income tax and national insurance contributions.