HC Deb 01 November 1988 vol 139 c623W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what basis is used for the determination of industrial injury benefit due to pneumoconiosis; and if there are any plans to change this in the near future.

Mr. Scott

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 27 May at column418. Disablement benefit in respect of pneumoconiosis is payable according to the assessed percentage disablement. Assessments of disablement between 1 and 10 per cent. are paid at the 10 per cent. benefit rate, and those between 11 and 20 per cent. at the 20 per cent. benefit rate. Thereafter, benefit is paid in further steps of 10 per cent. up to the 100 per cent. rate, with assessments ending in the figure 5 or above being

Uprating dates (1) Child benefit £ (2) Column (1) expressed at April 1988 prices 1 £ (3) Widow/IVB child dependants £ (4) Column (1) + column (3) £ (5) Column (4) expressed at April 1988 prices1 £ Male manual earnings married couple Column (1) expressed as a percentage of net2 Per cent. Male manual earnings married couple Column (4) expressed as a percentage of net2 Per cent.
April 1979 4.00 7.79 5.35 9.35 18.22 6.0 13.9
November 1979 4.00 7.02 7.10 11.10 19.49 5.2 14.4
November 1980 4.75 7.23 7.50 12.25 18.65 5.4 14.0
November 1981 5.25 7.14 7.70 12.95 17.61 5.6 13.9
November 1982 5.85 7.49 7.95 13.80 17.66 5.9 14.0
November 1983 6.50 7.93 7.60 14.10 17.21 6.1 13.3
November 1984 6.85 7.97 7.65 14.50 16.87 5.9 12.6
November 1985 7.00 7.72 8.05 15.05 16.60 5.7 12.3
July 1986 7.10 7.70 8.05 15.15 16.44 5.5 11.7
April 1987 7.25 7.53 8.05 15.30 15.90 5.2 11.1
April 1988 7.25 7.25 8.40 15.65 15.65 4.8 10.3
1Based on the movements in the Retail Price Index between the uprating dates shown to April 1988.
2Net average earnings are the estimates of gross weekly earnings less tax and National Insurance contributions at the non-contracted out rate.

Sir Ian Gilmour

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing each of the main national insurance benefits, for single people and married couples, at current prices, at constant 1988 prices, and as percentages of(a) gross and (b) net average male manual earnings in 1958, 1968, 1978 and each year thereafter.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

I refer my right hon. Friend to sections 5 and 6 of the "Abstract of Statistics for Index of Retail Prices, Average Earnings, Social Security Benefits and Contributions" (August 1988) published by this Deparment, a copy of which is held in the Library.