Personal Assets (Hansard, 24 April 1978)

§ Mr. Kilfedder
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can estimate the number of persons in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, respectively, who in the last year for which the necessary information is available, had assets of over £5,000, £10,000, £20,000, £50,000 and £100,000.

§ Mr. Robert Sheldon
For 1975, the latest year for which estimates are available, the figures for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are given in the table below. No separate estimates for Wales are at present available. The figures do not take account of wealth held by certain trusts, for which information is not available.

§ Mr. Ralph Howell
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit) Official Report, 10th November, columns 161–2, if he will compare the 9.9 per cent. fall in real net take-home pay of a married couple with two children on average industrial earnings since 1973–74 with changes in the real value of net weekly income of people in similar family circumstances who are sick or unemployed.

§ Mr. Orme
, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th November 1977; Vol. 940, c. 152], gave the following information:
455W
The benefits payable to persons who are sick or unemployed vary according to

COMPARISON OF THE VALUES OF CERTAIN BENEFITS—NOVEMBER 1973-NOVEMBER 1977

Benefit November 1973 November 1977 1977 equivalent of 1973 rate Percentage by which 1977 rate exceeds value of 1973 rate

£ £ £

1. Sickness or unemployment benefit at standard rates … … … … 16.50 32.80 31.75 +3.3

2. Sickness or unemployment benefit at standard rates, including earnings-related supplement … … … 23.50 43.90 45.22 -2.9

3. Invalidity benefit, including invalidity allowance … … … … 21.10 47.10 40.60 +16.0

4. Supplementary benefit at ordinary scale rates, excluding provision for rent … 16.15 32.60 31.74 +2.7

Notes:

(1) Changes in value are calculated by reference to changes in the retail prices index (excluding housing in the case of supplementary benefit).

(2) Figures given are for a married man who has two children aged 3 and 6 and has earned the average wage for adult male workers at all relevant times. For invalidity allowance, it is assumed that the man became incapacitated between the ages of 35 and 45.

(3) Family allowances (1973) or child benefit (1977) have been included where appropriate.

(4) Information about the conditions for, and duration of, these benefits is contained in leaflets NI12 (unemployment benefit), NI16 (sickness benefit) NI16A (invalidity benefit) and SBI (supplementary benefit). I am sending copies of these leaflets to the hon. Member.

COMPARISON OF THE VALUES OF CERTAIN BENEFITS—NOVEMBER 1973-NOVEMBER 1977
Benefit	November 1973	November 1977	1977 equivalent of 1973 rate	Percentage by which 1977 rate exceeds value of 1973 rate
					£	£	£
1. Sickness or unemployment benefit at standard rates	…	…	…	…	16.50	32.80	31.75	+3.3
2. Sickness or unemployment benefit at standard rates, including earnings-related supplement	…	…	…	23.50	43.90	45.22	-2.9
3. Invalidity benefit, including invalidity allowance	…	…	…	…	21.10	47.10	40.60	+16.0
4. Supplementary benefit at ordinary scale rates, excluding provision for rent	…	16.15	32.60	31.74	+2.7
Notes:
(1) Changes in value are calculated by reference to changes in the retail prices index (excluding housing in the case of supplementary benefit).
(2) Figures given are for a married man who has two children aged 3 and 6 and has earned the average wage for adult male workers at all relevant times. For invalidity allowance, it is assumed that the man became incapacitated between the ages of 35 and 45.
(3) Family allowances (1973) or child benefit (1977) have been included where appropriate.
(4) Information about the conditions for, and duration of, these benefits is contained in leaflets NI12 (unemployment benefit), NI16 (sickness benefit) NI16A (invalidity benefit) and SBI (supplementary benefit). I am sending copies of these leaflets to the hon. Member.