§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the reason for the assumption in Low Income Families 1981 that families off work sick or unemployed for less than three months had 75W income equal to their normal income in paid work; and how many more families would be shown as unemployed, sick or living on low incomes if this assumption were discontinued.
§ Mr. MajorThe bulk of data contained in the tables "Low Income Families—1981" is derived from the family expenditure survey. The practice of equating the incomes of families off work, sick or unemployed for less than three months to their normal income in work, follows the convention adopted by the Department of Employment
Employment status Unemployed Sick In work Receiving supplementary benefit +400,000 +20,000 — Not receiving supplementary benefit but with income below that level +160,000 +40,000 -40,000 Not receiving supplementary benefit but with income above, but less than 40 per cent. above, that level +80,000 +30,000 -120,000