§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware that in terms of net weekly disposable income, on the basis of the written reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 1st February 1974, a man with a wife and two children will be only £1.34½ better off if his gross weekly wage is increased from £25 to £30; and if he will take action to change this situation;
(2) whether he is aware that, in terms of net weekly disposable income, on the basis of the written reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 1st February 1974, a man with a wife and two children will be only £6.14½ better off if his gross weekly wage is increased from £25 to £40; and if he will take action to change this situation.
§ Dr. GilbertWe are aware of the situation to which the hon. Member refers, which arises because of the combined operation of tax deductions and the withdrawal of means-tested benefit394W as earnings increase. We shall be keeping the matter under consideration.
§ Mr. Norman Lamontasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the proportion of the population with incomes two, three and five times the national average earnings for the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and the United States of America.
§ Dr. GilbertI regret that this information is not available.