§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring up to date his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North. Official Report, 21 February, c. 335, showing tax-free incomes in January 1980 and 1981 as percentages of supplementary benefit entitlement levels including average housing costs.
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§ Mr. Peter ReesOn the same basis as the previous answer, the figures are:
Tax free income as a percentage of supplementary benefit entitlement levels including average housing costs January 1980 percentage January 1981 percentage Married couple with 1 child, aged 0–4 93.1 90.3 Married couple with 2 children, aged 0–4 and 5–10 93.4 90.2 Married couple with 3 children, aged 0–4, 5–10 and 11–12 91.7 85.8 Married couple with 4 children, aged 0–4, 5–10, 11–12 and 16 or over. 83.0 78.2 1. The figures used in the calculations of supplementary benefit entitlement levels are overall requirements for supplementary benefit and include average amounts for rent and rates. The figures also include the cash equivalent of free school meals and free welfare milk where appropriate. They exclude the value of child benefit. 2. The amounts used for average rent and rates are those amounts used in the Department of Health and Social Security's tax benefit model. They are not average amounts of rent and rates payable to supplementary benefit claimants. 3. The figures for January 1981 are based on the changes already announced or otherwise current amounts.