HC Deb 07 July 1982 vol 27 cc112-3W
Mr. Timothy Smith

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date his answer to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) of 22 January 1980, Official Report, c. 188–192, by giving the figures for 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82 of the average real weekly net income, expressed in December 1979 prices, of a man on half average earnings, three-quarters average earnings, average earnings, one and a half times average earnings and twice average earnings who is (a) single, (b married with no children, (c) married with one child aged under 11 years, (d) with two children aged under 11 years, (e) with two children, one aged under 11 and one aged 11 to 16 years and (f) with four children, two aged under 11 and two aged 11 to 16 years.

Mr. Ridley

The information (including revisions to some earlier years) expressed at November 1979 prices is as follows:

Single Married Married with one child under 11 years Married with two children under 11 years Married with two children one under 11 one 11–16 years Married with four children two under 11 two 11–16 years
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
£ £ £ £ £ £
¾ Average Earnings 55.80 59.70 63.40 67.10 67.10 74.60
Average Earnings 72.00 75.90 79.70 83.40 83.40 90.90
1 ½ Average Earnings 105.30 109.20 112.90 116.60 116.60 124.10
2 × Average Earnings 141.30 145.20 148.90 152.70 152.70 160.10
1981–82
½ Average Earnings 37.80 41.30 45.10 49.00 49.00 56.70
¾ Average Earnings 53.50 57.00 60.90 64.80 64.80 72.50
Average Earnings 69.30 72.80 76.70 80.50 80.50 88.30
1 ½ Average Earnings 100.90 104.30 108.20 112.10 112.10 119.80
2 × Average Earnings 134.70 139.40 143.30 147.10 147.10 154.90

Average earnings are for full-time adult male manual workers. Figures for financial years are based on averages of monthly estimates derived from new earnings survey data for each April and a centred three-month moving average of the average earnings index (whole economy). Figures for 1981–82 are provisional.

Net income equals earnings plus child benefit or family allowance, where appropriate, less income tax and national insurance contributions, assuming that the contributor is not contracted out of the State—earnings related—pension scheme. Real net income has been calculated with reference to movements in the general index of retail prices (all items).