§ 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 to the hon. Member for Norfolk North on 10th June, columns 156–64, but assuming that unemployment benefit were taxable comparing the net weekly spending power for a week's work after 39 weeks and when unemployed after 39 weeks at the appropriate rate—for a married man with a wife and two children not over 11 years of age who is earning £20, £25, £30, £35, £40, £45, £50, £55 and £60.
§ Mr. O'MalleyIn the past 16 months I have answered many Questions of a similar nature from the hon. Member I have also indicated my doubts as to the validity of the assumptions, of the resulting figures and of any conclusions which might be drawn from those figures. The500W tables now requested would involve further assumptions about methods of taxation, and a substantial number of additional calculations. I am not satisfied that the very considerable expenditure of staff time which would be involved in making these calculations would be justified.