HC Deb 23 July 1981 vol 9 c221W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of net income at average earnings, sickness and unemployment benefit, plus earnings-related supplement, can be accounted for in the latest available year for the following groups: (a) single persons, (b) married couples and (c) married couples with two children.

Mrs. Chalker

I refer the hon. Member to the Abstract of Statistics for Index of Retail Prices, Average Earnings, Social Security Benefits and Contributions, dated May 1981, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Table 6.2d relates benefit rates, including earnings-related supplement and, where appropriate, child benefit, to net income based on the estimated average earnings of all adult male workers, at the dates of national insurance benefit upratings, derived by interpolation or extrapolation from the results of the April New Earnings Survey. Table 6.2c gives similar information but using average earnings of male manual workers, from the October earnings inquiry. Tables 6.2b and 6.2a, respectively, give corresponding figures for the months of those inquiries in each year.