§ Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what negotiations have been held by the Property Services Agency with regard to the possible use of the site at Penny Street, Blackburn by the Department of Health and Social Security.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe Property Services Agency had discussed with the owners the possible purchase of the site for Government offices. These discussions were discontinued last year when it became clear that funds to develop the site would not be available for some time.
§ Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates that the unsatisfactory office conditions of the Department of Health and Social Security in Blackburn will be relieved; and in what way.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe Property Services Agency is considering the scope for reallocating space between Government Departments in existing premises in Blackburn to alleviate poor working conditions. I cannot at present give any assurance whether this will be practicable or whether funds will be available for it.
Married couple with two children under 11 years Tax thresholds Tax free income Tax thresholds Tax free income as percentage of average earnings of manual workers as percentage of Family Supplement as percentage of Supplementary Benefit plus average housing costs as percentage of average earnings of manual workers as percentage of Family Income Supplement as percentage of Supplementary Benefit plus average housing costs £ £ 1979–80 1,815 2,231 34.1 57.7 75.9 38.9 70.9 93.4 1980–81 2,145 2,589 33.6 55.7 72.5 37.9 67.3 87.6 Revised figures for 1979–80 have been given, based on the April 1980 new earnings survey. (b)(i) The cost in a full year at 1980-81 income levels of increasing the single person's tax allowance to the level of supplementary benefit plus housing costs appropriate for a single person is about £740 million.
(ii) Supplementary benefit rates are fixed for a single person on the one hand or a married couple on the other. I am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind in asking for the cost of raising the wife's earned income allowance to the appropriate benefit level.
(iii) The cost of raising each married man's allowance to the supplementary benefit level—including housing costs, school meals allowances and so on—appropriate to his family circumstances, but not of child benefit, is about £,780 million in a full year at 1980–81 income levels.