§ Mr. Radiceasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the light of the fact that the EEC Second Supplies Directive came into force on 1st July 1978, and that the United Kingdom accounts for 90 per cent. of the public contracts advertised in the EEC Official Journal since that date, whether he will now initiate proceedings in the European Court against other member States for being in breach of the directive, and against the Commission for failure to ensure application of the directive.
Single person Married couple Married couple 2 children under 11 Married couple 2 children under 11 2 children 11–16 £ £ £ £ 1974–75 … 161 223 333 448 1975–76 … 140 197 286 378 1976–77 … 132 195 293 395 1977–78 … 149 229 287 351 1978–79 (estimate) … 144 225 254 293 The figures are on the same basis as the previous answer except that the figure for 1974–75 has been recalculated using the average of the retail prices index for 1974–75. The index for September 1978, the latest available, has been used for 1978–79.
The revalorised tax threshold for married couples with children shows a reduction over the last two years which reflects the reduction in child tax allowances: over the same period there has been an increase in child support by way of child benefit.