§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Paymaster General what information he has concerning the level of average incomes in (a) the north-west region and (b) the south-east region in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. LeeThe information available relates to average gross weekly income of households as shown in the family expenditure surveys and is as follows:
North West £
South East £
1976 76.53 90.98 1977 86.82 105.09 1978 98.59 118.33 1979 116.67 134.06 1980 139.10 171.37 1981 170.08 194.45 1982 169.53 198.83 19831 (a) 178.95 223.14 1983 (b) 176.63 221.86 1984 178.92 239.59 1985 187.31 255.86 1 Under the housing benefit scheme introduced in stages from November 1982, some cash transactions were eliminated leading to a reduction in the level of cash income.For 1983 figures are given (a) covering the same transactions as in the earlier years and (b) on a cash transactions basis consistent with the years 1984 and 1985. Note.—Gross income as defined in the family expenditure survey comprises cash income (eg from employment, investments, pensions and cash social security benefits) together with selected other benefits such as the imputed value of owner occupied accommodation and the value of luncheon vouchers. It does not cover most non-cash benefits such as free prescriptions or benefits in kind (eg free coal, company cars). Gross income will not reflec: rent and rates rebates, except in so far as described in note 1 above.