§ Mr. MacGregorasked the Minister for the Civil Service what would be the net take-home pay of the following grades in the Civil Service, on a weekly basis for the last 12 weeks of the fiscal year, for a married man with two children, in the two circumstances, first, that he was in full-time employment during these weeks, and second, that he was sick and subject to the normal Civil Service rules in relation to sick pay at the maximum salarly level of a principal, senior executive officer, higher executive officer and higher clerical officer.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisFor the first six months' sick leave during any period of 12 months civil servants may on certain conditions receive full pay, but only in return for undertakings not to claim national insurance benefit. But since sickness benefit is not taxable, tax is not charged on an amount equivalent to the sickness benefit that they would otherwise claim, in order to ensure that civil servants are treated in the same way as other employees.
The average weekly net take-home pay for a married officer at work, with two children under the age of 11, at each of the levels mentioned, would be:
Grade (at maximum salary level) Principal … £98.70 SEO … £81.24 HEO … £66.54 HCO … £54.54 The effect of tax relief, along with the lower national insurance contributions payable during the period of sickness, is for civil servants as for others to increase take-home pay net of tax above its normal level. The average weekly tax and national insurance contributions for the same officers mentioned above, for the last 12 weeks of the fiscal year, would be: