§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is aware that a man with a wife and three children under 11 years of age, whose weekly wage is £25 per week, has £6.36 more spending power in the first weeks of unemployment than when at work; and if he will take steps to rectify this situation;
(2) if he will take steps to rectify the situation whereby a man with a wife and three children under 11 years of age whose weekly wage is £30 has £4.81 more spending power in the first 11 weeks of unemployment than when at work.
§ Mr. NottThis sort of situation can arise only at certain periods in the tax year and then only where the man has been in continuous employment at the stated level since the preceding 5th April. On the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the written reply to him of 17th January last.