HC Deb 28 February 1980 vol 979 cc702-5W
Sir Brandon Rhys Williams

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures comparing the net weekly incomes of single non-householders, single householders, single wage married couples, two wage married couples, single wage married couples with two children aged 8 and 12 years, two wage married couples with two children aged 8 and 12 years, single wage married couples with four children aged 6, 8, 12 and 14 years and two wage married couples with four children aged 6, 8, 12 and 14 years, earning 50 per cent., 75 per cent. and 100 per cent. of average male annual earnings, assuming: existing child allowances and child benefits and that single person's tax allowance, married person's tax allowance and wife's earned income allowance were abolished in favour of a uniform tax allowance at £700 per annum and an untaxed householder credit of £4 per week and child benefits at children's supplementary benefit levels.

Mr. Biffen

[pursuant to his reply, 27 February 1980]: On the assumptions stated, and giving an allowance of £1,400 to a married couple whether the wife is working or not, the figures are as shown in the following table.

Half average earnings Three quarters average earnings Average earnings
Net income at present Net income under suggested rates Difference Net income at present Net income under suggested rates Difference Net income at present Net income under suggested rates Difference
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Single man, non-householder … … 2,254 2,115 –139 3,188 3,049 —139 4,122 3,983 —139
Single man, householder … … 2,254 2,322 68 3,188 3,256 68 4,122 4,190 68
Single wage married couple … … 2,449 2,532 83 3,383 3,466 83 4,317 4,400 83
Two wage married couple … … 4,075 3,813 —262 5,634 5,368 —266 7,189 6,923 —266
Single wage married couple with 2 children 2,865 3,258 393 3,799 4,192 393 4,733 5,126 393
Two wage married couple with 2 children 4,491 4,539 48 6,050 6,093 43 7,605 7,648 43
Single wage married couple with 4 children 3,281 3,744 463 4,215 4,678 463 5,149 5,612 463
Two wage married couple with 4 children 4,907 5,025 118 6,466 6,580 114 8,021 8,135 114

Note:

The figures take account of income tax, national insurance at the not-contracted-out rate, and child benefit. They do not take account of family income supplement or other means tested benefits. The multiples of average earnings are estimates of the annual equivalents of adult male or female earnings as appropriate, averaged over all occupations, in November 1979 (the latest month available.)