§ 23. Mr. Gregoryasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many hours work it took a worker on average industrial earnings to earn sufficient to purchase basic foodstuffs in 1979 and 1986.
§ Mr. MacGregorFigures for the amount of time at work needed to purchase a selection of foodstuffs in recent years are shown in table 6.9 of the 1987 edition of "Social Trends".
§ 37. Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what study his Department has conducted on the effect of wages and earnings increases which exceed the rate of inflation on employment prospects.
§ Mr. MacGregorA review by Treasury officials entitled "The Relationship between Employment and Wages" was published in January 1985. Copies are available in the House of Commons Library.
§ 56. Mr. Ashleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase since 1979 in earnings after tax, in real terms, for (a) the top decile of earners and (b) the bottom decile of earners.
§ Mr. LawsonThe increases, from April 1979 to April 1986, in real earnings after income tax for the highest and lowest decile of male earners are estimated at 26 per cent. and 6.8 per cent. respectively. Comparable figures for the period April 1973 to April 1979 are 0.8 per cent. and 3.6 per cent. for the highest and lowest deciles respectively. The calculations are based on a married man in full time work paid at adult rates with pay unaffected by absence whose only tax relief is the married man's allowance and apply the tax regimes of 1973–74, April 1979 and 1986–87.