§ Mr. MacGregorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to the Written Answer given to the hon. Member for Norfolk South in the Official Report, 15th February, columns 268–70, if he will arrange to reprint the table, clarifying the headings for column (e) and rework that column in terms of 1977–78 prices.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI regret that in my previous reply to the hon. Member—[Official Report, Vol. 944, c. 268–70]—the headings of column (e) were printed incorrectly and should have read "real net income at 1973–74 prices". The corresponding figures expressed at October 1977 prices are as follows:
REAL NET INCOME AT OCTOBER 1977 PRICES (1) (2) (3) Average earnings £ per week
Twice average earnings £ per week
Three times average earnings £ per week
1973–74 … 69.30 129.30 186.50 1974–75 … 68.80 128.00 177.70 1975–76 … 65.50 119.90 160.20 1976–77 … 64.60 116.80 155.20 1977–78 … 63.70 115.60 155.30
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the reply by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Official Report, 17th November 1977, column 349, to the hon. Member for Chingford, whether, now that statistics are available for 1977, the Cabinet is agreed that the standard of living of the ordinary man in the United Kingdom has fallen substantially since the last General Election.
183W
§ Mr. Joel BarnettI will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Tebbitasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the estimate given in the reply to the hon. Member for Chingford, Official Report, 22nd November, column 708, showing the aggregate extra gross pay needed to have maintained the purchasing power of take-home pay of a married worker with two children earning average industrial wages since (a) October 1974, and (b) March 1974, adjusted in each case to present price levels and value of money.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.