§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what levels of gross weekly earnings families with two 741W children aged (a) 8 and 10 years and (b) 12 and 14 years wills require from the end of November, in order to have net weekly spending power equal to 120 per cent. and 140 per cent. of their new supplementary benefit entitlement levels plus free school meals, assuming weekly. housing costs of (i) £12 and (ii) £18 and weekly work expenses of £3 and £6, respectively.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI regret that I am unable to justify the cost in financial and staff resources that would be involved in supplying the information requested. As I explained to my hon Friend in my reply on 6 March 1980, the use of nonstandard assumptions adds disproportionately to the work required. [Vol. 980, c.300–1.]