§ Dr. Owenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of average take-home pay is (a) a single person's pension and (b) a married couple's pension.
§ Dr. BoysonAt November 1982 the basic retirement pension of £32.85 weekly for a single person and £52.55 weekly for a married couple represented 30.6 per cent. and 46.7 per cent. respectively of net average earnings for men. Estimates of net average earnings are derived from the index of average earnings (whole economy, seasonally adjusted) taking into account personal income tax and national insurance contributions.
Comparable earnings estimates for November 1983 are not yet available. Using provisional estimates of earning for October 1983 and the November 1983 pension rates of £34.05 and £54.50, the proportions would be 29.4 per cent. and 44.9 per cent. respectively.