HC Deb 26 April 1976 vol 910 cc44-5W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table on the same basic assumptions as the written reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, (Mr. Howell) of 8th July 1975, Official Report, C. 109–112, in respect of a married couple with two children in work in the light of the Budget changes and assuming that the conditional tax allowances are introduced.

Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he 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 1974—[Vol. 873, c. 464 to 470]—showing the net weekly spending power for a week's work after 39 weeks and when unemployed after 39 weeks at the appropriate wage rate for a single person, for a married man with a wife and no children, and for a married man with a wife and one child, two children, three children and four children, assuming in each case gross weekly earnings of £20, £25, £30, £35, £40, £45, £55 and £60, respectively; if he will bring the earlier information up to date in line with tax changes announced in the Chancellor's recent Budget, with increases in unemployment benefit, and with any other relevant changes which may have occurred since May 1974; and if he will show, in each case, for how many weeks the unemployed person will receive income tax rebates;

(2) if he will publish a table on the same basic assumptions as in the written reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk North on 10th June 1975—[Vol. 893, c. 156 to 164]—comparing net weekly spending power for a week's work after 39 weeks and when unemployed after 39 weeks in the tax year, covering all family circumstances in the previous reply and earnings at £5 intervals between £25 and £70 a week, but basing earnings related benefit on the Department of Employment earnings index over the past 21 months, including a second section for the unemployed showing notional details of net weekly spending power assuming that unemployment benefit were taxable, and using the new rates of benefit as announced in the recent Budget.

Mr. Orme

I regret that I am not satisfied that it would be justifiable, in terms of useful information that would be provided, to undertake the very considerable expenditure of time and effort which would be required to make the many calculations for which the hon. Member has asked.

Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table based on the same assumptions as in the reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk North published on 10th November, Official Report, c. 540 to 546, showing for each set of circumstances in the earlier reply, net weekly spending power of the unemployed (a)after income tax rebates have run out but assuming continued payment of earnings related benefit and (b)after both tax rebates and earnings related benefit have run out.

Mr. Orme

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the late Minister of State to his earlier and identical Question on 10th December 1975.—[Vol. 902, c.211–216.]