§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the minimum income of a man, his wife and two children, using the same 551W assumptions in the reply given to the hon. Member for Norfolk North, Official Report, 25 July, columns 312–20 (a) when receiving unemployment benefit and (b) when entirely dependent on supplementary benefit; and if he will give details of the minimum income of a man in similar circumstances when at work earning £50, £70 and £90 per week, respectively.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe information requested is set out in the table below. It is based on current rates of benefit and relates to a married couple with two children aged 4 and 6. The assumptions made to arrive at the minimum net weekly spending power are as follows:
1. Housing costs—rent £6.50 rates £2.80 2. Work expenses £2.45 3. Child benefit £8.00 4. Means-tested benefits taken up in full but no family income supplement in payment when unemployed as payment period has run out. 5. Wife has no personal income (apart from child benefit) from earnings or social security benefits. 6. Entitlement to an earnings-related supplement, when unemployed, has ceased. 7. No tax allowances apart from personal allowances. 8. Income tax refunds not included. The information relates only to the particular illustrative situations quoted and has no general applications and no validity if quoted out of context without stating the assumptions used.
Family Circumstances Net Weekly Spending power Unemployed and receiving: (a) unemployment benefit £37.40 (b)supplementary benefit £37.15 Working and earning: (a) £50 £44.76 (b) £70 £52.04 (c) £90 £64.59