§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table showing the value of income support, including premiums where appropriate, for(a) a single person aged under 25 years, (b) a single person aged over 25 years, (c) a couple over the age of 18 years, (d) a couple with two children aged under 11 years and (e) a one-parent family with one child under 11 years of age as a proportion of average net earnings for all males and all manual males.
§ Mr. PortilloThe information requested is given in the table:
Income support benefit rates—as percentages of average earnings (11 April 1988) Recipients under pension age 1Per cent. 2Per cent. Single person Aged 16–17 11.1 13.3 Aged 18–24 15.0 17.8 Aged 25 and over 19.2 22.8 Married couple 28.4 33.5 Married couple plus 2 children 37.3 43.4 One parent family with one child (under 11) Aged 16–17 21.2 24.9 Aged 18 and over 28.7 33.6 1 Average net earnings: All males. 2 Average net earnings: All manual male workers. Notes:
1. Net average earnings are taken to be provisional gross average earnings less tax and national insurance contributions at the non-contracted out rate, plus child benefit where appropriate.
2. The calculations for one parent families incorporate the additional personal tax allowance in respect of a one parent family.