HC Deb 13 May 1964 vol 695 cc87-8W
Mr. Beaney

asked the Minister of Labour, with reference to the Family Expenditure Survey, as recorded in the Ministry of Labour Gazette for December, pages 482–83, why the Index Group of Households is shown as spending 454s. 9d. per week, while the average income is shown as 414s. 8d. per week.

Mr. Godber

The total spending of 454s. 9d. a week includes a number of payments which are not necessarily made out of current income as defined for the purposes of the Family Expenditure Survey.

These payments may include large cash outlays for capital assets, such as the deposit on the purchase of a house, which are usually financed out of past savings. Payments which relate to savings or changes in capital assets are segregated from current household expenditure and included in the group described as "Other Payments Recorded". This group of payments accounted for 83s. 6d. of the 454s. 9d.

The income figure does not include withdrawals from past savings, proceeds from the sale of houses, cars, furniture or other capital assets, or receipts from legacies, maturing insurance policies or other windfalls.

Mr. Beaney

asked the Minister of Labour, with reference to the Family Expenditure Survey, as recorded in the Ministry of Labour Gazette for December, 1963, pages 482–83, what was the average mortgage payment made by the 707 Index households purchasing their own houses; and what was the average amount spent by these households on repairs.

Mr. Godber

The 707 Index households paid an average of 39s. 11½d. per week in mortgage repayments. No separate details are available of expenditure by this group of households on repairs, maintenance and decorations.

Mr. Beaney

asked the Minister of Labour, with reference to the Family Expenditure Survey for the year ended June, 1962, as recorded in the Ministry of Labour Gazette for December, 1962, page 460, how many of the 1,154 Index households living in their own dwellings were purchasing them; what was the average mortgage payment by these households; and what was the average payment for rates, ground rent, &c., and for repairs.

Mr. Godber

600 of the 1,154 Index households were purchasing their dwellings and paying an average of 38s. 3d. per week in mortgage repayments. Their average expenditure on rates, water, ground rent, etc., was 21s. 6d. No separate details are available of expenditure by this group of households on repairs, maintenance and decorations.