§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the total net cost in the current financial year of abolishing earnings-related supplements, and introducing flat-rate short term national insurance benefits—without additions for children—at: (a) 45 per cent. of average male manual earnings for a married couple and 27 per cent. for a single person, and (b) 50 per cent. of average male manual earnings for a married couple and 32 per cent. for a single person.
§ Mr. OrmeBased on average earnings taken as £60 a week at November 1975, the date of the last uprating of benefits, (a) £240 million and (b) £470 million.