§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate the annual gross salary needed to equal the £83.95 per week net support which a man with a wife and three children would receive if he were dependent on supplementary benefit if his rent were £12 and rates £3 per week;
(2) if he will estimate the annual gross salary needed to equal the £71.30 per week net support which a man with a wife and two children would receive if he were dependent on supplementary benefit, if his rent were £12 and rates £3 per week;
(3) if he will estimate the annual gross salary needed to equal the £66.25 per week net support which a man with a wife and one child would receive if he were dependent on supplementary benefit, if his rent were £12 and rates £3 per week;
(4) if he will estimate the annual gross salary needed to equal the £93 per week net support which a man with a wife and four children would receive if he were dependent on supplementary benefit, if his rent were £12 and rates £3 per week.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI have written to my hon. Friend explaining the general background to calculations of this kind. The figures of total income support shown in the tax/benefit model tables are based on standard assumptions on rents, rates, ages of children and other factors. On the basis of these standard assumptions, the figures of total income support for married couples with one, two, three and four children are £48.60, £58.75, £72.90 and £89.45 respectively. These figures will be found in Table B on page 58 of the November 1981 edition of the model tables. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House. Table B on page 58 also gives the levels of gross earnings at which income from work becomes' greater than total income support on supplementary benefit, ie £30.30; £31.54; £37.13; and £99.47 (but also see note 2 to table B) respectively.
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