HC Deb 08 June 1982 vol 25 c75W
Mrs. Shirley Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the annual average income of a single person unemployment benefit now constitutes.

Mr. Rossi

I refer to the right hon. Member to tables 6(1)(b) and 6(2)(b) of the 1982 "Abstract of Statistic for Index of Retail Prices, Average Earnings, Social Security Benefits and Contributions", a copy of which has recently been placed in the Library of the House. Those tables give figures for flat-rate unemployment benefit and flat-rate benefit plus earnings-related supplement as percentages of weekly average net income at November 1981, when benefit rates were last increased.