HC Deb 06 February 1978 vol 943 cc392-3W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will update the information on benefit rates given to the hon. Member for North Norfolk, Official Report, 13th February 1976, c. 416–18.

Mr. Orme

The following is the information:

STANDARD RATES OF SHORT TERM NATIONAL INSURANCE BENEFIT AS A PERCENTAGE OF NET AVERAGE EARNINGS*
Year (October) Single person Married couple Married couple with two children aged under 11 Married couple with four children aged under 11 Married couple with four children aged 3, 8. 12 and 14
1954 18.7 29.3 36.7 43.1 43.1
1955 21.3 32.4 39.4 46.2
1956 20.1 30.7 37.1 44.4
1957 19.2 29.3 35.5 42.2
1958 23.9 35.9 44.0 52.4
1959 22.4 33.9 41.9 49.8 49.8
1960 21.1 31.9 39.5 46.7
1961 23.6 35.8 44.3 52.3
1962 22.9 34.8 43.0 50.8
1963 25.6 38.8 47.4 56.0
1964 24.0 36.5 44.6 52.0 52.0
1965 27.0 41.2 49.3 56.8
1966 26.2 40.1 48.0 55.2
1967 28.4 43.4 51.8 58.9
1968 26.6 40.8 50.6 57.4
1969 27.5 42.4 52.8 60.2 59.3
1970 25.0 38.4 48.3 55.6
1971 27.1 41.8 60.3 74.3
1972 25.7 39.8 58.4 72.9
1973 26.1 40.7 60.4 76.3
1974 29.7 45.5 67.1 84.4 83.5
1975 33.3 50.6 74.8 94.0 93.2
1976 34.3 52.1 76.3 95.3 94.6
1977‡ 34.7 52.1 76.5 96.5 95.8
* Estimated earnings of male, adult, full-time manual workers based on the Department of Employment's October enquiry into the earnings of manual workers employed in manufacturing and certain other industries plus family allowances less tax and national insurance contributions.
† National Insurance benefit rates used for 1969, 1975, 1976, 1977 are those for November.
‡ Average earnings for October 1977 are provisional.