§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons received the earnings-related supplements to (a) unemployment benefit, (b) sickness benefit, (c) injury benefit, (d) maternity allowance and (e) widows' allowance in each year since the supplement was introduced, showing the highest and lowest decile and median payments in respect of each benefit in each year.
§ Mr. PrenticeI regret that it has not been possible in the time available to calculate all of the figures requested. The tables below show the position at the earliest and latest dates for which estimates can be made, and at 1971 which is the year in which the real value of ERS to an average earner reached its peak. The amounts of ERS shown are weekly rates and are approximate estimates.
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Unemployment benefit* Sickness benefit† injury benefit† ERS recipients Lowest Deciles Median Highest ERS recipients‡ Lowest Decilesş Median Highest ERS recipients Lowest Decilesş Median Highest £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 1966 59,000 0.50 2.45 6.80 1967 97,000 0.55 2.60 6.20 246,000 0.70 2.80 5.75 40,000 1.05 3.15 5.50 1968 100,000 0.75 3.00 7.00 253,000 38,000 1969 92,000 0.85 3.45 7.00 255,000 38,000 1970 110,000 1.00 3.70 7.00 260,000 33,000 1971 144,000 1.05 4.05 7.00 233,000 1.15 4.00 7.00 29,000 1.85 4.60 7.00 1972 166,000 1.30 4.50 7.00 236,000 29,000 1973 97,000 1.20 5.45 7.00 264,000 1.75 5.45 7.00 28,000 2.40 6.15 7.00 1974 95,000 1.25 5.80 8.35 270,000 27,000 1975 171,000 1.30 6.15 9.05 254,000 23,000 1976 245,000 1.95 7.15 10.15 262,000 28,000 1977 223,000 2.65 7.90 11.25 271,000 26,000 1978 204,000 3.55 8.45 12.70 291,000 5.20 9.45 12.20 27,000 6.45 10.05 12.25 1979 176,000 3.55 8.30 14.00 * On a day in May (November in 1966). †On a day in June. ‡Until 1976 these statistics also included awards to recipients of Maternity Allowance. şBased on days of ERS paid in the year ending June.
Maternity allowance* Widow allowance‡ Year ERS awards† Lowest Deciles Median Highest ERS awards Lowest Deciles Median Highest £ £ £ £ £ £ 1966 1967 46,000 1.05 3.30 6.80 1968 46,000 1.20 3.70 6.85 1969 39,000 1.45 4.05 6.85 1970 1971 36,000 2.00 5.25 6.95 1972 1973 1974 50,000 3.25 6.90 8.30 1975 46,000 4.05 7.85 9.10 1976 185,000 1.05 4.35 7.85 47,000 5.20 8.60 9.95 1977 181,000 2.30 6.05 9.15 46,000 6.20 9.50 11.65 1978 198,000 3.15 7.10 10.45 46,000 6.45 10.70 15.10 1979 * Awards relate to the year ending March. Deciles are based on the awards. † Until 1976 these statistics were included in the sickness benefit statistics. ‡ Awards relate to the calendar year. Deciles are based on the awards.