HC Deb 14 July 1980 vol 988 cc411-2W
Mr. Dubs

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net weekly income in 1978–79 and 1979–80, separately, after taking account of income tax, child benefit, family income supplement and the value of free school meals where applicable, for a married couple with three children where the husband is earning £40, £80, and £120 per week respectively; what are the corresponding figures for a family where the children are resident overseas in a country without reciprocal arrangements for the payment of child benefit; and what these figures will be in 1980–81 assuming that no further changes are made to the regulations in respect of allowances for children overseas, tax allowances or benefits other than those already announced.

Mr. Peter Rees

The figures are as follows. They are given for the April at the beginning of each tax year for comparison with other questions from the lion. Member. The tax rates and allowances used, however, are those finally obtaining in each year—in the case of 1980–81, those specified in the Finance (No. 2) Bill.

1. Net income taking account of income tax, child benefit, family income supplement and free school meals.

Earnings per week Net income
1978–79 1979–80 1980–81
£ £ £
£40 … … 54.30 60.20 69.00
£80 … … 73.50 79.20 84.90
£120 … … 100.30 107.20 108.40

2. Net income where children are resident overseas, taking account of child tax allowances in each year of £300 for each child under age 11 and £335 for the child aged between 11 and 16.

£ £ £
£40 … … 40.00 40.00 40.00
£80 … … 70.40 72.60 73.80
£120 … … 97.20 100.60 101.80

For these calculations the children's ages have been assumed to be 3, 8 and 11.

Under the Education Act 1980 local education authorities are able to decide what they will charge for school meals. There is, however, a statutory minimum requirement on them to provide free meals for children in families receiving supplementary benefit and family income supplement (FIS). They also have discretionary powers to extend this provision to other children when they consider it appropriate to do so. The figures used reflect the latter provision: free school meals have been included in (1) above for the family on £80 per week in 1980–81, though it is not entitled to FIS.