HC Deb 28 January 1980 vol 977 cc472-3W
Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many skillcentre places there are in Wales; and how many will be closed in 1980 and in 1981.

Mr. Nicholas Edwards

1,475. No decisions have yet been taken by the Manpower Services Commission on the level of skillcentre activity for the future.

COMPARISON BETWEEN STANDARD RATE OF RETIREMENT PENSION FORA MARRIED COUPLE PLUS 2 CHILDREN GROSS AND NET EARNINGS: 1977 TO 1979
Year (October) Average weekly earnings* plus family allowance/child benefit Net income after deducting tax and NI contributions Standard rate of retirement benefit plus family allowance/child benefit Net income as percentage of gross earnings Benefit as percentage of net income
£ £ £ Per cent. Per cent.
1977† 75.39 57.29 39.40 76.0 68.8
1978 88.10 67.27 44.80 76.4 66.6
1979 105.27 80.96 51.90 76.9 64.1

COMPARISON BETWEEN STANDARD RATE OF RETIREMENT PENSION FOR A MARRIED COUPLE PLUS 4 CHILDREN GROSS AND NET EARNINGS: 1977 TO 1979
Year (October) Average weekly earnings*plus family allowance/child benfit Net income after deducting tax and NI contributions Standard rate of retirement benefit plus family allowance/child benefit Net income as percentage of gross earnings Benefit as percentage of net income
£ £ £ Per cent. Per cent.
1977† 78.39 62.51 54.30 79.7 86.9
1978 92.70 73.14 61.60 78.9 84.2
1979 113.27 88.96 72.60 78.5 81.6
* Average earnings of full-time manual wage earners in manufacturing and some principal non-manufacturing industries, taken from the enquiry conducted by the Department of Employment in October each year.
†The information about net earnings for 1977 in the tables published in the Official Report, 11 July 1978 c. 426–30, has been revised. The original figures for net income in October 1977 were calculated by allowing for tax changes implemented in November 1977 and operative retrospectively. The revised figures are based on earnings and tax allowance and rates current in October 1977.