§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish a table, on the same basic assumptions as in the Written Reply given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 15th May last (columns 464 to 470), bringing the earlier information up to date in line with the new needs level for rent and rates rebates and with any other relevant changes which may have occurred, for instance, increases in expenses associated with work; and if she will show in each case for how many weeks of the year it is possible for a man to have more spending power out of work than when employed.
Mr. O'MallleyThe figures would differ little from those given previously, while the comparisons between net income when working and when unemployed would hardly differ at all. The considerable expenditure of staff time involved in making the calculations for which the hon. Member asks would therefore not be justified.