HC Deb 24 January 1986 vol 90 cc342-3W
Mr. John

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the aggregate amount of wages paid to employed workers in agriculture at the last date for which statistics are available; what were the equivalent amounts 10 and 20 years previously expressed (a) in current terms and (b) in real terms; and what, in each year, that aggregate amount was as a percentage of farming income.

Mrs. Fenner

Information on the estimated annual earnings of hired agricultural workers and the imputed annual earnings of family workers and junior partners for the years requested are given in the following table:

between rent and rate payments and certificated and non-certificated benefits; and what is the estimated number of recipients in each category of benefit in each year.

Mr. Major

The information requested is as follows:

Estimated expenditure £ million, Great Britain
1985–86 1986–87
Rent Rebate
Certificated 1,530 1,600
Standard 760 750
Total 2,290 2,350
Rent Allowance
Certificated 530 550
Standard 250 250
Total 780 800
Rate Rebate
Certificated 920 950
Estimated expenditure £ million, Great Britain
1985–86 1986–87
Standard 600 550
Total 1,520 1,500
Estimated caseload (thousands)
Rent Rebate
Certificated 2,110 2,100
Standard 1,750 1,700
Total 3,860 3,900
Rent Allowance
Certificated 630 600
Standard 530 500
Total 1,160 1,200
Rate Rebate
Certificated 3,560 3,600
Standard 3,700 3,300
Total 7,260 6,900

Notes: Estimates for 1985–86 are rounded to the nearest £10 million and 10,000 households; those for 1986–87 to the nearest £50 million and 100,000 households.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services at what levels of gross income entitlement to housing benefit will cease for a working single person, childless couple, couple plus one, two, three and four children and lone parent plus one, two, three and four children, assuming average rent and rates, under the proposals in Cmnd. 9691 and in each case at what income levels entitlement ceases at present.

Mr. Newton

[pursuant to the reply, 15 January 1986, c. 595]: The gross income levels at which entitlement to housing benefit will cease on the illustrative assumptions used in the technical annex to Cmnd. 9691 are as follows:

Household type Gross in-come (£s) current scheme Gross in-come (£s) proposed scheme
(i) Single person 91.85 71.52
(ii) Childless couple 114.35 98.76
(iii) Couple with one child 132.17 124.65
(iv) Couple with two children 148.94 139.73
(v) Couple with three children 163.44 160.01
(vi) Couple with four children 177.94 180.29
(vii) Lone parent with one child 132.17 114.53
(viii) Lone parent with two children Lone parent with three 148.94 129.61
(ix) children 163.44 149.89
(x) Lone parent with four children 177.94 170.17

Notes:

  1. 1. The following rent and rates levels respectively have been assumed for the various household types: £13.80 and £5.20 for (i) and (ii), £15.40 and £6.20 for (iii) and (vii); £16.50 and £6.30 for (iv), (v), (vi), (viii), (ix) and (x).
  2. 2. The current minimum benefit level of 50 pence has been used throughout.
  3. 3. The current tax allowances, national insurance rates, and levels of child benefit and one parent benefit, have been used throughout. No account has been taken of possible entitlement to FIS/family credit.
  4. 4. The single person has been assumed to be aged over 25.
  5. 5. The ages of the children have been assumed to be as follows; under 11 years where only 1 or 2 children; 1 over 11 and 2 under 11 years where 3 children; 2 over 11 and 2 under 11 years where 4 children.
  6. 6. It has been assumed in each case that the head of the household only is in work.
  7. 7. Other assumptions are based on the illustrative figures used in the Technical Annex to Cmnd. 9691: income support rates as in paragraph 2.4 of the annex; a taper of 60 per cent. for housing benefit in relation to rent and 20 per cent. in relation to rates; and all householders make a minumum contribution of 20 per cent. towards their rates.