§ 18. Mr Jim Marshallasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the change in real personal disposable income per head between the first quarter of 1974 and the second quarter of 1979; and what has been the change from the second quarter of 1979 to the latest available published figure.
§ Mr. WakehamWhilst real net income has gone up since 1979 for all those in work whose earnings have risen in line with the national average, real personal disposable income per head, which includes those not in work, has fallen. RPDI rose by 12 per cent. between the first quarter of 1974 and the second quarter of 1979, about one third of which reflects the increase in benefits. Between the second quarter of 1979 and the fourth quarter of 1982, the latest figures available, it fell by around 1 per cent. though this takes no account of the beneficial effects of the Budget, nor of the further reduction in inflation.