HC Deb 26 January 1979 vol 961 cc286-9W
Mr. Tebbit

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each year since 1970–71, including his estimate for 1978–79, the average real weekly net income and the average real weekly take-home pay, expressed in December 1978 prices, for a man on average earnings who is (a) single, (b) married with no children, (c) married with one child under 11 years, (d) married with two children under 11 years, and (e) married with two children under 11 years and two other children between 11 and 16 years.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18 January 1979; Vol. 960, c. 864], gave the following information:

The figures are as follows:

Real weekly take-home pay at December 1978 prices£ Real weekly net income at December 1978 prices £
Single person Married man Married 1 child aged under 11 Married 2 children under 11 Married 4 children, 2 under 11, 2 aged 11–16 Married 1 child aged under 11 Married 2 children under 11 Married 4 children, 2 under 11, 2aged 11–16
1970–71 … … … … … 60.60 63.60 66.10 66.90 69.40 66.10 69.40 77.40
1971–72 … … … … … 62.20 64.90 67.80 69.20 72.80 67.80 71.50 80.10
1973–73 … … … … … 66.90 69.30 72.00 73.40 76.80 72.00 75.50 83.60
1973–74 … … … … … 68.10 70.40 72.80 73.90 76.90 72.80 75.80 83.10
1974–75 … … … … … 66.70 69.40 72.10 73.70 77.60 72.10 75.40 82.90
1975–76 … … … … … 63.40 66.10 68.50 69.50 72.30 68.50 71.70 78.80
1976–77 … … … … … 61.90 64.90 67.40 68.80 72.30 67.40 70.70 77.90
1977–78 … … … … … 62.20 65.80 67.20 68.50 71.40 68.30 71.20 77.40
1978–79 … … … … … 65.70 69.20 69.80 70.50 72.20 72.40 75.70 82.70

Take-home pay is earnings less tax and national insurance contributions. Net income is take-home pay plus family allowance or child benefit, and is therefore, for those without children, equal to take-home pay.

For years 1970–71 to 1977–78 average earnings are the average of the Department of Employment's estimates of the average weekly earnings of full time adult male workers in all occupations in April at the start and finish of each income tax year. For 1978–79 the April 1978 new earnings survey estimate has been updated 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.

The price index used is the general index of retail prices—all items.