§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Royal Mint has now completed its review of the possibility of including a National Giro account number in its advertisements; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesGiro cheques have always been acceptable to the Royal Mint
Year One-half average earnings real weekly take home pay Two-thirds average earnings real weekly take home pay Average earnings real weekly take home pay £ £ £ 1970–71 30.70 39.10 56.00 1971–72 31.00 39.70 57.30 1972–73 34.70 43.90 62.40 1973–74 35.30 44.90 64.10 1974–75 34.90 44.20 63.00 1975–76 33.20 42.10 59.70 1976–77 32.20 40.80 58.10 1977–78 32.70 41.20 58.40 1978–79 34.60 43.60 61.60 The figures are for a single man on average manual wages, for whom take-home pay and net income are the same.
Average earnings are the average of the Department of Employment's estimates of the average weekly earnings of full-time adult male manual workers in April at the start and finish of each income tax year. For 1978–79 the April 1978 new earnings survey estimate has been up dated to October 1978, taking account of movements in a centred three-month moving average of the whole economy index of average earnings of all employees, lake-home pay is earnings less tax and national insurance contributions. The prices index used to express the figures at constant February 1979 prices is the general index of retail prices for all items.
918Wand in its latest brochures advertising both the 1978 and 1979 United Kingdom proof coin sets issued recently the Mint has included Giro transfer as a method of payment. The Royal Mint is at present monitoring the results of this inclusion but these will have to be analysed before the review can be completed.