HC Deb 27 February 1981 vol 999 cc453-4W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were for 1979 and 1980 (a) standard rates of unemployment and sickness benefit, (b) standard rates of unemployment and sickness benefit plus earnings. related supplement, (c) standard rates of retirement pension and (d) child support for one child and three child families, all in relation to average male manual earnings in October of each year.

Benefits expressed as a percentage of average gross earnings*
Child support‡ for:
Single Person Married Couple 1 child 3 children
A
Standard rates of unemployment/sickness benefit October 1979 16.2 26.3 4.8 13.4
October 1980|| 16.3 26.4 4.9 13.6
Standard rates of unemployment/sickness benefit October 1979 28.5 38.5 4.8 13.4
plus ERS¶ October 1980|| 27.5 37.6 4.9 13.6
Standard rates of retirement pension October 1979 20.1 32.2 9.3 25.7
October 1980|| 20.6 32.9 9.5 26.6
B
Standard rates of unemployment/sickness benefit November 1979 18.8 30.4 5.6 15.5
November 1980|| 18.0 29.1 5.0 14.0
Standard rates of unemployment/sickness benefit November 1979 30.8 42.4 5.6 15.5
plus ERC¶ November 1980|| 29.1 40.2 5.0 14.0
Standard rates of retirement pension November 1979 23.6 37.8 10.8 30.1
November 1980|| 23.7 37.9 10.3 28.5
Benefits expressed as a percentage of average gross earnings+
Child support‡ for:
Single Person Married Couple 1 child 3 children
A
Standard rates of unemployment/sickness benefit October 1979 22.8 35.0 6.3 17.2
October 1980|| 23.2 35.6 6.5 17.8
Standard rates of unemployment/sickness benefit October 1979 40.0 51.4 6.3 17.2
plus ERS¶ October 1980|| 39.2 50.7 6.5 17.8
Standard rates of retirement pension October 1979 28.3 42.9 12.2 33.1
October 1980|| 29.3 44.4 12.6 34.7
B
Standard rates of unemployment/sickness benefit November 1979 26.4 40.6 7.3 19.9
November 1980|| 25.7 39.4 6.7 18.2
Standard rates of unemployment/sickness benefit November 1979 43.4 56.7 7.3 19.9
plus ERS¶ November 1980|| 41.5 54.3 6.7 18.2
Standard rates of retirement pension November 1979 33.3 50.6 14.3 38.8
November 1980|| 33.8 51.2 13.7 37.1

NOTES:

* Estimates of average gross weekly earnings of full.time adult male manual workers in manufacturing and some non.manufacturing industries, derived from the Department of Employment's October inquiry by interpolation/extrapolation using the seasonally adjusted index of average earnings (older series). Child benefit is included in the earnings used as a base for the columns relating to child support.

† Estimates of average gross weekly earnings, as above, with deductions for income tax and national insurance contributions at the non.contracted. out rate. Child benefit is included in the earnings used as a base for the columns relating to child support.

‡ Child benefit plus child dependency additions to national insurance benefits.

|| All 1980 figures are provisional.

¶ Earnings.related supplement calculated on the assumption that the beneficiary's earnings in the relevant earlier tax year were at the rate of average earnings in October of that year.

Mrs. Chalker

Part A of the table below gives the information requested by my hon. Friend, on the basis of earnings and benefit rates in October 1979 and October 1980. Part B of the table gives corresponding information on the basis of earnings and benefit rates in November of those years, following the uprating of national insurance benefits.