§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out in tabular form the net income, including child benefit where appropriate, of a single man, a married man with two children, on average national male earnings in each case, in October 1978, 1979 and 1980; and whether he will also show the increase in net income in real terms at October 1980 prices for each of the three categories.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 4 February 1981, c. 118–19]: The weekly figures of net income are as follows:
Net income Net income at October 1980 Prices October Single Married Married with 2 children Single Married Married with 2 children £ £ £ £ £ £ 1978 64.60 6810 74.00 87.40 92.10 100.00 1979 78.40 82.10 90.10 90.40 94.80 104.00 1980 94.50 98.90 106.90 94.50 98.90 106.90 From October 1978 to October 1980 net income at October 1980 prices shows the following increases: single person £7.10, married man £6.80 and a married man with two children aged under 11 £6.90.
Net income is gross earnings less income tax and national insurance contribution plus where appropriate child benefit. Average earnings have been taken from the April new earnings survey estimates of the average earnings of full-time adult male workers in all occupations, manual and non-manual, updated by a centred three-monthly moving average of the seasonally adjusted monthly index of average earnings. The Price index used is the general index of retail prices—all items.
National insurance contributions are at the not contracted out rate.
205WThe figures for October 1978 and 1980 for the man with two children do not, of course, take account of the November increases in child benefit on each of those years.