§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increase in basic wage is necessary for a railwayman Class A, now on a basic weekly wage of £33.40, in order to increase his net weekly spending power, defined as in the Official Report, 15th May 1974, columns 464 to 470, by the same amount as the rate of inflation since his last wage award.
§ Mr. O'MalleyA railwayman who at the date of his last pay award, 29th April 1974, was receiving a basic wage of £29 would then have had a net spending power of £26.46 at current prices. To176W maintain this so as to take account of the rate of inflation since that date he would require a total wage increase of £7.80, including £4.40 thresholds.
NOTES : I. This man is assumed to be married with two children aged 3 and 8.
2. Net weekly spending power is defined as earnings plus family allowance plus family income supplement less tax less national insurance plus rent rebate plus rate rebate less rent less rates plus the value of free school meals and welfare milk less work expenses.
3 April 1974 February 1975 £ £ Rent 4.65 5.00 Rates 1.49 1.60 Work expenses 0.55 0.65 4. The rate of inflation between April 1974 and February 1975 is assumed to be the same as for the 10-month period February 1974 to December 1974, since the latest available information on the retail price index relates to December 1974.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will compare the net weekly spending power of a face worker coal miner with a wife and two children earning a basic wage of £49.40 after the last pay award with his spending power after the new award, assuming a new wage of £61, after allowing for inflation during the period, and making the same assumption for net weekly spending power as in the reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 15th May 1974, c. 468–470.
§ Mr. O'MalleyOn 1st March 1974, the date of the last pay award, this man had a basic wage of £45 and a net spending power of £34.96 at current prices. On 1st March 1975 his gross wage is £61 and after allowing for inflation his net spending power has increased by £3.84 to £38.80.
NOTES
1. This man is assumed to have children aged 3 and 8.
2. Net spending power is defined in the answer to the previous Question.
3. The rate of inflation between March 1974 and March 1975 is assumed to be the same as that between December 1973 and December 1974, since December 1974 is the latest available date for the retail price index.
4. February 1974 February 1975 £ £ Rent 4.57 5.00 Rates 1.46 1.60 Expenses 0.52 0.65