§ Mr. Powellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a detailed statement of the equivalent circumstances in Great Britain on the basis of which the Northern Ireland regional rate for 1976–77 has been struck, including (a) the estimated ratio of average domestic rate to average family income in 1976–77 in the comparable areas and in Northern Ireland, respectively, and (b) the actual average family income in the comparable areas and in Northern Ireland, respectively, when last estimated.
§ Mr. Merlyn Rees,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th February 1976 ; Vol. 905, c. 245], gave the following information:
I have already published a statement on the striking of the regional rate for Northern Ireland, a copy of which has been sent to the right hon. Member. The specific information requested is not yet 349W available, but the following matters have been relevant in striking the rate.
In 1972 the North Region and the Yorkshire and Humberside Regions were chosen as comparable areas for the purposes of determining the level of the Northern Ireland regional rate on the basis of the average weekly household incomes in those areas and in Northern Ireland as revealed by the Family Expenditure Survey Reports for the United Kingdom and for Northern Ireland respectively. In that year incomes were as follows:—
Region Weekly Income £ Yorkshire and Humberside 38.06 Northern Ireland 36.25 North 35.61