HC Deb 05 May 1975 vol 891 cc354-5W
Mr. George

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will publish in the Official Report the value of (a) flat rate unemployment/sickness benefit, and (b) the flat rate unemployment/sickness benefit plus earnings related supplements as a percentage of average earnings for each year since October 1966;

(2) if she will list in the Official Report the standard weekly rate of unemployment benefit/sickness benefit plus earnings related supplements for each year

UNEMPLOYMENT/SICKNESS BENEFIT PLUS EARNINGS-RELATED SUPPLEMENT (WHERE APPROPRIATE) IN RESPECT OF A MARRIED COUPLE WITH TWO CHILDREN AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE EARNINGS, AND VALUE AT 1974 PRICES
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
Year (October) Standard weekly rate of unemployment/sickness benefit for married couple with two children Value of rates in column (a) at constant October 1974 prices* Standard weekly rate of flat-rate unemployment/sickness benefit in column (a) plus earnings-related supplement† Value of rates in column (c) at constant October 1974 prices* Value of flat-rate unemployment/sickness benefit in column (a) as percentage of average earnings† Value of flat-rate unemployment/sickness benefit in column (a) plus earnings-related† supplement as percentage of average earnings‡
£ £ £ £ % %
1948 … … 2.475 8.93
1949 … … 2.475 8.62
1950 … … 2.475 8.41
1951 … … 2.725 8.28
1952 … … 3.35 9.52
1953 … … 3.35 9.36
1954 … … 3.35 9.10
1955 … … 4.00 10.32
1956 … … 4.00 9.94
1957 … … 4.00 9.53
1958 … … 5.10 11.89
1959 … … 5.10 11.91
1960 … … 5.10 11.68
1961 … … 5.975 13.17
1962 … … 5.975 12.79
1963 … … 7.05 14.76
1964 … … 7.05 14.18
1965 … … 8.35 16.03
1966 … … 8.35 15.44 12.10 22.38 41.1 59.6
1967 … … 9.40 17.05 13.45 22.39 44.0 62.9
1968 … … 9.20 15.80 13.65 22.44 40.0 59.3
1969 … … 10.30 16.75 15.25 24.80 41.5 61.4
1970 (November) … 10.30 15.64 15.95 24.22 36.7 56.9
1971 … … 12.50 17.35 19.25 26.72 40.4 62.2
1972 … … 14.20 18.21 21.20 27.28 39.6 59.2
1973 … … 15.60 18.27 22.60 26.46 38.1 55.2
1974 … … 1840 — 26.16 — 37.8 53.8
* Based on the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices—all items.
† Earnings-related supplement calculated as assuming earnings throughout the relevant income tax year to be at a weekly rate equal to average earnings in the October of that year.
‡ Estimated average earnings of male adult full-time manual workers in manufacturing and certain other industries based on the Department of Employment's regular October inquiry.