§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment, now that it has been shown that for the first time the average cost of keeping a family has risen above the average family income, whether he will take action to assist those on lower incomes, if need be by a National Minimum Wage Bill, to ensure that all families receive the national average of £30.99 per week, the present average cost for keeping a family.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkAverage weekly household income in 1971 after deducting income tax and national insurance contribution was £32.14 compared with average weekly expenditure of private households of £30.99. We have introduced a number of measures such as family income supplements and substantial increases in tax allowances which are more effective means of increasing the incomes of low-paid workers in relation to family circumstances than a statutory national minimum wage.