HC Deb 07 December 1971 vol 827 cc269-70W
42. Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reply he sends to letters he receives concerning the alleviation of poverty.

Sir K. Joseph

I take every opportunity to affirm that the alleviation of

NATIONAL ASSISTANCE/SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT
Date Average Earnings Effective Date of Rate Single Non-householder +rent addition Per cent. of Average Earnings Single Householder +average rent Per cent. of Average Earnings
October:
1948 … £6.90 July, 1948 … … £1.00* 14.5 £1.20* 17.4
1949 … £7.13 July, 1948 … … £1.00* 14.0 £1.20* 16.8
1950 … £7.52 June, 1950 … … £1.10* 14.6 £1.30* 17.3
1951 … £8.30 September, 1951 … £1.30* 15.7 £1.50* 18.1
1952 … £8.93 June, 1952 … … £1.55* 17.4 £1.75* 19.6
1953 … £9.46 June, 1952 … … £1.55* 16.4 £1.75* 18.5
1954 … £10.22 June, 1952 … … £1.84 18.0 £1.75* 17.1
1955 … £11.15 February, 1955 … £1.98½ 17.8 £1.87½* 16.8
1956 … £11.90 January, 1956 … £2.12 17.8 £2.00* 16.8
1957 … £12.58 January, 1956 … £2.13 16.9 £2.00* 15.9
1958 … £12.83 January, 1958 … £2.40 18.7 £3.08 24.0
1959 … £13.35 September, 1959 … £2.70 19.9 £3.38 24.9
1960 … £14.53 September, 1959 … £2.73 18.8 £3.41 23.5
1961 … £15.34 April, 1961 … £2.91½ 19.0 £3.64½ 23.8
1962 … £15.86 September, 1962 … £3.04½ 19.2 £3.91½ 24.7
1963 … £16.75 May, 1963 … … £3.23 19.3 £4.30½ 25.7
1964 … £18.11 May, 1963 … … £3.27 18.1 £4.38½ 24.2
1965 … £19.59 March, 1965 … £3.91½ 20.0 £5.12 26.1
1966 … £20.30 November, 1966 … £3.95 19.5 £5.77 28.4
1967 … £21.38 October, 1967 … £4.05 19.0 £6.18 28.9
1968 … £23.00 October, 1968 … £4.25 18.5 £6.54 28.4
1969 … £24.83 November, 1969 … £4.40 17.7 £6.86 27.6
1970 … £28.05 November, 1970 … £4.75 16.9 £7.39 26.3
The figures marked with an asterisk do not include an allowance for rent as the relevant statistics were not kept at the time.
The value of supplementary benefit in respect of those who are over pension age and certain other long-term claimants has been increased since November, 1966 by the long-term addition (45p increased to 50 p.) in October, 1968.

poverty is a main objective of the Government in general and my own Department in particular. Where appropriate I draw attention to what the Government have already achieved in this field.