HC Deb 13 March 1985 vol 75 cc165-6W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the net weekly spending power of a man and a wife, with two children aged 11 and 15 years, whose income is £120 per week, whose rent and rates are £20 and £7 per week, respectively, and who are receiving all state benefits to which they are entitled (a) when he is working and (b) if he were unemployed and assuming that both husband and wife were earning the £4 disregarded income.

Mr. Whitney

The net weekly spending power of a man with a wife and two children aged 11 and 15 would be £83.65 if the man's gross earnings were £120 a week, and the family has no other income apart from benefits.

If the family's only income, apart from benefits, was from part-time earnings and both the man and his wife and £4 of their earnings disregarded for supplementary benefit purpose, the net weekly spending power would be £87.45.

The calculations assume "£7 rates" are £5.50 general rate and £1.50 water rate. Other unspecified assumptions are as in the November 1984 edition of the DHSS tax/benefit model tables.

Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the net weekly spending power of a man with a wife and two children aged eight and 11 years whose income is £100 per week and whose rent and rates are £20 and £7, respectively (a) when he is working and (b) if he were unemployed and assuming that he and his wife were both earning the £4 disregarded income and in each case were receiving all the benefits to which they were entitled.

Mr. Whitney

The net weekly spending power of a man with a wife and two children aged eight and 11 would be £79.05 if the man's gross earnings were £100 a week, and the family had no other income apart from benefits.

If the family's only other income, apart from benefits, was from part-time earnings and both the man and his wife had £4 of their earnings disregarded for supplementary benefit purposes, the net weekly spending power would be £82.70.

The calculations assume "£7 rates" are £5.50 general rate and £1.50 water rate. Other unspecified assumptions are as in the November 1984 edition of the DHSS tax/ benefit model tables.