HC Deb 12 July 1979 vol 970 cc284-7W
Mr. Field

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1970–71, including his estimate for 1979–80, the average real weekly net income and the average real weekly take-home pay, expressed in April 1979 prices, for a man on average earnings, half average earnings, two-thirds average earnings and twice average earnings who is (a) single, (b) married with no children, (c) married with one child under 11 years, (d) married with one child under 11 years and one child aged between 11 and 16 years and (e) married with two children under 11 years and two children aged between 11 and 16 years.

Mr. Peter Rees

The figures are as follows:

The average earnings figures are the averages of the new earnings survey estimates of the average weekly earnings of full-time adult male employees in all occupations, manual and non-manual, at the April or the beginning and end of each year. For 1978–79 and 1979–80 the assumed level of earnings for October 1978 and March 1979 (the latest available average earnings figure) were used. They were obtained by updating the new earnings survey estimate of average earnings of full-time adult males in April 1978 taking account of movements in a centred three-month moving average of the whole economy index of average earnings of all employees.

Net income is earnings less tax and national insurance contributions, plus family allowance or child benefits where appropriate.

Take-home pay is earnings less tax and national insurance contributions.

The prices index used to express net

REAL WEEKLY TAKE-HOME PAY AT APRIL 1979 PRICES
Single Married Married couple with one child under 11 years Married, two children, one under 11, one 11–16 years Married, four children, two under 11, two 11–16 years
£ £ £ £ £
1970–71—
½ X average earnings … … 35.50 38.70 41.40 42.70 42.70
⅔ X average earnings … … 45.30 48.60 51.30 52.70 54.80
Average earnings … … 65.40 68.70 71.30 72.80 74.90
2 X average earnings … … 128.10 131.40 134.10 135.60 137.70
1971–72—
½ X average earnings … … 35.90 38.70 41.80 43.50 43.50
⅔ X average earnings … … 46.20 49.00 52.10 54.20 57.60
Average earnings … … 67.10 69.90 73.00 75.10 78.50
2 X average earnings … … 132.20 135.10 138.20 140.20 143.60
1972–73—
½ X average earnings … … 40.00 42.70 45.60 46.40 46.40
⅔ X average earnings … … 50.90 53.50 56.50 58.40 61.60
Average earnings … … 72.60 75.30 78.20 80.10 83.30
2 X average earnings … … 141.50 144.20 147.10 149.00 152.10
1973–74—
½ X average earnings … … 40.90 43.30 46.00 47.70 48.60
⅔ x average earnings … … 55.20 54.60 57.30 59.00 61.90
Average earnings … … 74.80 77.20 79.90 81.60 84.50
2 X average earnings … … 147.00 149.40 152.10 153.80 156.60
1974–75—
½ X average earnings … … 41.20 44.20 47.30 49.20 51.20
⅔ X average earnings … … 52.40 55.50 58.60 60.80 64.80
Average earnings … … 74.90 78.00 81.10 83.30 87.30
2 X average earnings … … 146.70 150.30 153.80 156.20 160.10
1975–76—
½ X average earnings … … 40.30 43.40 46.10 47.70 50.50
⅔ X average earnings … … 51.20 54.30 57.00 58.60 61.40
Average earnings … … 73.00 76.10 78.80 80.40 83.20
2 X average earnings … … 139.20 143.60 147.00 149.10 153.70
1976–77—
½ X average earnings … … 38.00 41.30 44.10 46.00 49.40
⅔ X average earnings … … 48.30 51.60 54.50 56.40 59.90
Average earnings … … 69.10 72.40 75.20 77.10 80.60
2 X average earnings … … 130.00 134.70 138.60 141.10 145.60
1977–78—
½ x average earnings … … 37.30 41.30 42.80 44.40 46.90
⅔ X average earnings … … 47.30 51.30 52.80 54.40 57.30
Average earnings … … 67.30 71.30 72.80 74.40 77.30
2 X average earnings … … 128.30 135.50 135.50 137.50 140.90
1978–79— … …
½ X average earnings … … 39.70 43.50 44.20 44.90 46.30
⅔ X average earnings … … 50.20 54.00 54.70 55.40 57.30
Average earnings … … 71.20 75.10 75.70 76.50 78.30
2 X average earnings … … 138.00 142.60 143.50 144.60 146.40
1979–80 (March 1979, but with Budget tax rates and allowances)—
½ X average earnings … … 39.90 43.70 43.70 43.70 43.70
⅔ X average earnings … … 50.70 54.50 54.50 54.50 54.50
Average earnings … … 72.30 76.10 76.10 76.10 76.10
2 X average earnings … … 141.30 145.10 145.10 145.10 145.10
income and take home pay at constant April 1979 prices is the general index of retail prices for all items.

REAL WEEKLY NET INCOME AT APRIL 1979 PRICES
Single Married Married couple with one child under 11 years Married, two children, one under 11, one 11–16 years Married, four children, two under 11, two 11–16 years
£ £ £ £ £
1970–71—
½ X average earnings … … 35.50 38.70 41.40 45.30 51.20
⅔ X average earnings … … 45.30 48.60 51.30 55.40 63.40
Average earnings … … 65.40 68.70 71.30 75.50 83.50
2 X average earnings … … 128.10 131.40 134.10 138.20 146.20
1971–72—
½ X average earnings … … 35.90 38.70 41.80 45.90 51.30
⅔ X average earnings … … 46.20 49.00 52.10 56.60 65.40
Average earnings … … 67.10 69.90 73.00 77.50 86.30
2 X average earnings … … 132.20 135.10 138.20 142.60 151.50
1972–73—
½ X average earnings … … 40.00 42.70 45.60 48.70 53.70
⅔ X average earnings … … 50.90 53.50 56.50 60.70 69.00
Average earnings … … 72.60 75.30 78.20 82.40 90.70
2 X average earnings … … 141.50 144.20 147.10 151.30 159.40
1973–74—
½ X average earnings … … 40.90 43.30 46.00 49.80 55.30
⅔ X average earnings … … 52.20 54.60 57.30 61.10 68.60
Average earnings … … 74.80 77.20 79.90 83.70 91.20
2 X average earnings … … 147.00 149.40 152.10 155.90 163.40
1974–75—
½ X average earnings … … 41.20 44.20 47.30 51.40 57.10
⅔ X average earnings … … 52.40 55.50 58.60 62.60 70.60
Average earnings … … 74.90 78.00 81.10 85.20 93.10
2 X average earnings … … 146.70 150.30 153.80 158.00 165.90
1975–76—
½ X average earnings … … 40.30 43.40 46.10 50.20 58.00
⅔ X average earnings … … 51.20 54.30 57.00 61.10 68.90
Average earnings … … 73.00 76.10 78.80 82.90 90.70
2 X average earnings … … 139.20 143.60 147.00 151.60 160.20
1976–77—
½ X average earnings … … 38.00 41.30 44.10 48.10 55.70
⅔ X average earnings … … 48.30 51.60 54.50 58.50 66.20
Average earnings … … 69.10 72.40 75.20 79.20 86.90
2 X average earnings … … 130.00 134.70 138.60 143.20 151.90
1977–78—
½ X average earnings … … 37.30 41.30 44.00 47.40 53.40
⅔ X average earnings … … 47.30 51.30 54.00 57.40 63.80
Average earnings … … 67.30 71.30 74.00 77.40 83.80
2 X average earnings … … 128.30 133.50 136.70 140.40 147.40
1978–79—
½ X average earnings … … 39.70 43.50 47.10 50.50 57.60
⅔ X average earnings … … 50.20 54.00 57.60 61.10 68.60
Average earnings … … 71.20 75.10 78.60 82.10 89.70
2 X average earnings … … 138.00 142.60 146.30 150.30 157.70
1979–80 (March 1979, but with Budget tax rates and allowances)—
½ X average earnings … … 39.90 43.70 47.80 51.90 60.00
⅔ X average earnings … … 50.70 54.50 58.60 62.70 70.80
Average earnings … … 72.30 76.10 80.20 84.20 92.40
2 X average earnings … … 141.30 145.10 149.20 153.30 161.40