HC Deb 10 April 1974 vol 872 cc221-5W
Mr. Rost

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on consumer products with steel content; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(2) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on ice cream; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(3) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on soft drinks; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(4) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on chocolates and sweets; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(5) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on rail travel; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(6) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on wines and spirits; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(7) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on beer; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(8) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on tobacco; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(9) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on electricity; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(10) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on betting payments less costs; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(11) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on postage, telephone and postal services; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(12) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on coal; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals;

(13) what is the weekly expenditure of a one-man, one-woman and two-children household, with average national industrial earnings, on betting payments less winnings; and by how much this will increase as a result of the Budget proposals.

Mr. Dell

The detailed information for which the hon. Member is not available. However, expenditure in 1972 by households of different sizes and by range of total household income is given in table 12 of the 1972 Family Expenditure Survey published last year.

Mr. Cormack

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and two dependent children earning £50 a week, gross, assuming a weekly consumption of six loaves, 20 pints of milk, four pints of beer, a half-bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and £1 worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £30 per quarter, and annual motoring of 10,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(2) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and two dependent children earning £55 a week gross, assuming a weekly consumption of six loaves, 20 pints of milk, four pints of beer, a half-bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and £1 worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £30 per quarter, and annual motoring of 10,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(3) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and two dependent children earning £60 a week gross, assuming a weekly consumption of six loaves, 20 pints of milk, four pints of beer, a half-bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and £1 worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £30 per quarter, and annual motoring of 10,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(4) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and two dependent children earning £65 a week gross, assuming a weekly consumption of six loaves, 20 pints of milk, four pints of beer, a half-bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and £1 worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £30 per quarter, and annual motoring of 10,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(5) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and one dependent child earning £50 a week gross assuming a weekly consumption of five loaves, 14 pints of milk, four pints of beer, a half-bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and £1 worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £30 per quarter, and annual motoring of 10,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(6) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and one child earning £55 a week gross assuming a weekly consumption of five loaves, 14 pints of milk, four pints of beer, a half-bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and £1 worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £30 per quarter, and annual motoring of 10,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(7) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and one dependent child earning £60 a week gross assuming a weekly consumption of five loaves, 14 pints of milk, four pints of beer, a half-bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and £1 worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £30 per quarter, and annual motoring of 10,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(8) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and one dependent child earning £65 a week gross assuming a weekly consumption of five loaves, 14 pints of milk, four pints of beer, a half-bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and £1 worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £30 per quarter, and annual motoring of 10,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(9) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and no children earning £50 a week gross assuming a weekly consumption of four loaves, 10 pints of milk, four pints of beer, one bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and 50p worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £25 per quarter, and annual motoring of 12,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(10) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and no children earning £55 a week gross assuming a weekly consumption of four loaves, 10 pints of milk, four pints of beer, one bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and 50p worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £25 per quarter, and annual motoring of 12,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(11) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and no children earning £60 a week gross assuming a weekly consumption of four loaves, 10 pints of milk, four pints of beer, one bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and 50p worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £25 per quarter, and annual motoring of 12,000 miles at 30 miles per gallon;

(12) what is the estimated net effect of the Budget proposals on a man with wife and no children earning £65 a week gross assuming a weekly consumption of four loaves, 10 pints of milk, four pints of beer, one bottle of wine, 60 cigarettes and 50p worth of confectionery, electricity charges of £25 per quarter, and annual

Weekly earnings … … … £50 £55 £60 £65
Extra weekly outgoings: pence
Married couple, 2 children under 11
Tax … … … −25 −10 +5 +20
National Insurance* … … +11 +19 +46 +57
Bread … … … −3 same same same
Milk … … … −40
Beer … … … +4
Wine … … … + 5
Cigarettes … … … +15
Confectionery … … … +10
Electricityt† … … … +69
Petrol … … … +32
Total … … … +£0.78 +£1.01 +£1.43 +£1.69
Married couple, 1 child under 11
Tax … … … +11 +26 +41 +56
National Insurance* … … +11 +19 +46 +57
Bread … … … − 2 ½ same same same
Milk … … … −28
Beer … … … +4
Wine … … … +5
Cigarettes … … … +15
Confectionery … … … +10
Electricityt† … … … +69
Petrol … … … +32
Total … … … +£1.26 ½ +£1.49 ½ +£1.91 ½ +£2.17 ½
Married couple, no children
Tax … … … +48 +63 +78 +93
National Insurance* … … +11 +19 +46 +57
Bread … … … − 2
Milk … … … −20
Beer … … … +4
Wine … … … +10
Cigarettes … … … +15
Confectionery … … … +5
Electricityt† … … … +58
Petrol … … … +38
Total … … … +£1.67 +£1.90 +£2.32 +£2.58
* The increase in national insurance contributions will take effect from 22nd July 1974.
† The increased electricity charges will not fall to be met until the beginning of August. for the quarter beginning 1st May.
Important note:
The hypothetical spending patterns of families with children assumed in the Questions do not provide a realistic basis for estimating the net distributional effects of the Budget proposals. No account is taken in the calculations of the direct and secondary effects on prices of items mentioned in the Budget speech other than those listed in the table.