HC Deb 16 November 1976 vol 919 cc499-500W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will confirm that an unemployed man with a wife and two children whose rent is £4.72 and rates £1.90 would have a net spending power of £36.64 per week when on supplementary benefit after 15th November; how this compares with the previous week; and whether this breaks the social contract;

(2) if he will confirm that a man with a wife and two children whose rent is £5.38 and rates £2.18 will have a net spending power of £52.23 for an indefinite period when on supplementary benefit, regardless of his previous earnings; if he will compare this figure with his net spending power for the previous week; and if he will state whether this breaks the social contract.

Mr. Orme

In each case the family's net weekly spending power after payment of rent and rates would be £30.02 compared with £26.02 previously. The answer to the last part of the hon. Gentleman's Question is "No".

Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will confirm that a man with a wife and two children whose previous wage was £55 per week and whose rent is £4.72, rates £1.90 and work expenses £1.75 will have £8.62 more spending power if unemployed in the week beginning 15th November 1976 than in the previous week; and if he will state whether this breaks the social contract;

(2) if he will confirm that a man with a wife and two children whose previous wage was £25 per week and whose rent and rates are average and whose travelling to work expenses are £1.75 will have £7.70 more spending power if unemployed in the week beginning 15th November than in the previous week; and whether this breaks the social contract.

Mr. Orme

On the assumptions in the hon. Gentleman's Questions, the increase in the net weekly spending power of an unemployed man with a wife and two children aged four and six after 15th November is £4.27 with previous earnings of £25 a week and £4.08 with previous earnings of £55 a week. Under the provisions of the Social Security Act, reviews of short-term benefits such as those for the unemployed are linked to the movement in prices over the relevant period. The answer to the last Dart of the hon. Gentleman's Question is "No".