§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the annual rate of increase in the rates of payment under the job release scheme in each year of its existence; when the next increase is due; and what will be the amount of that increase.
§ Mr. LeeThe percentage increases in the allowances are given in the following table.
Tax free Taxable higher lower higher lower 1977–78 35.0 15.2 1978–79 14.3 18.9 1979–80 13.7 14.3 1980–81 11.0 11.0 11.3 10.5 1981–82 8.9 8.8 8.5 9.5 1982–83 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 1983–84 5.0 5.1 5.0 5.0 1984–85 3.9 4.1 0.9 1.7 1985–86 4.0 4.0 4.0 3.9 1986–87 3.1 3.8 0.7 0.8 1987–88 4.0 4.0 1.3 1.6 The next increase in allowances is due in April 1989. My Department is currently considering the level of increase and I will inform the House as soon as a decision is reached.