HC Deb 25 February 1987 vol 111 cc301-2W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures for 1970, 1980 and for the latest date available, for a married man with two chidren, earning average male manual earnings, showing the length of time, after taking into account income tax liability and national insurance contribution, necessary to pay for each of one pint of fresh milk, one pint of beer, 20 cigarettes per day, the weekly rent of a three bedroomed council house and the running cost of a medium-sized car.

Mr. MacGregor

The information is not available in quite the form requested. Table 6.9 in Social Trends 17 (a copy of which is in the Library of the House) gives figures for a married man on average male (not average male manual) earnings for a variety of commodities for 1971, 1981 and 1985. Data for 1980 are available in table 6.8 of Social Trends 16.

Comparable figures for the average weekly unrebated rent of a three bedroomed council house in England and Wales are: 3 hours 56 minutes in 1971, 3 hours 27 minutes in 1980, and 4 hours 32 minutes in 1985. Data for 1985 are based on average hourly earnings of all males on adult rates of pay, while data for earlier years are based on average hourly earnings .of all males aged 21 and over.

Forward to