§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will compare, for a single householder, a married couple and a married man with a wife and one, two, three and four children, the supplementary benefit entitlement, including appropriate allowances for rent, rates, and free school meals, with the appropriate income tax threshold in the years 1960, 1965, 1970, 1974 and 1975.
§ Mr. O'MalleyThe information is as follows:
ANNUAL AMOUNTS IN £ AS AT NOVEMBER OF EACH YEAR 1960 1965 1970 1974 Single householder Supplementary benefit 182 278 384 604 Tax threshold 193 283 418 625 Married couple Supplementary benefit 284 424 580 907 Tax threshold 322 437 598 865 Married couple 1 child Supplementary benefit 328 485 662 1,070 Tax threshold 450 585 746 1,105 Married couple 2 children Supplementary benefit 369 544 740 1,213 Tax threshold 579 733 840 1,293 Married couple 3 children Supplementary benefit 429 624 852 1,381 Tax threshold 707 881 934 1,481 Married couple 4 children Supplementary benefit 488 704 964 1,534 Tax threshold 836 1,029 1,027 1,669
- 1. The supplementary benefit ordinary scale rates are used throughout.
- 2. The amount allowed for rent in each case is based on the average rent addition—estimated where necessary—for unemployed claimants in the different family groups. Information up to and including 1974 only is included, since corresponding rent and rates details for 1975 will not be available until the second half of 1976.
- 3. Family allowance is included in all entries where appropriate.
- 4. The ages of the children have been assumed as follows: where there are one or two, both under 5; where there are three or four, two under 5 and the remainder between 5 and 10.
252 - 5. Allowances in respect of free school meals are included for children over 5, and are based on a 40–week school year. In 1960 there were no nationwide arrangements in operation for free meals. An average figure has been assumed on the basis that it is likely, but not certain, that most national assistance beneficiaries would have qualified.