HC Deb 25 January 1994 vol 236 cc186-7W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the value of unemployment benefit for a couple with two children under 11 years in relation to prices and earnings since 1976.

Mr. Burt

The information is in the table.

Total UB Average Real Value of Benefit at April 1993 Prices over the Period Equivalent Value of Benefit at April 1993 Prices at Date of Uprating As a percentage of all adults average earnings
April 1990 60.40 65.96 67.88 23.0
April 1991 66.95 69.80 70.72 23.5
April 1992 69.70 70.45 70.60 22.9
April 1993 72.20 72.20 22.8

Notes:

1. Child dependency addition was abolished from November 1984

2. Earnings are derived from the Employment Department's new earnings survey estimates of all adult earnings.

3. The number of weeks between uprating dates is not always the same as the number of weeks between reference dates for the general index of retail prices (BPI). No adjustment is made for this.

4. The average real value of benefit at April 1993 prices is calculated over the period between uprating dates (e.g. July 1986-March 1987).

Source: Abstract of statistics for social security benefits and contributions and the indices of retail prices and average earnings.

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