HC Deb 08 July 1988 vol 136 cc780-1W
Mr. Battle

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the value of income support for(a) a single person aged under 25 years, (b) a single person aged over 25 years, (c) a married couple, (d) a one-parent family with one child aged four years, (e) a married couple with two children aged four and six years, (f) a pensioner couple aged 65 years and (g) a disabled person with entitlement to disability premium, as a proportion of average net earnings for all males and manual male workers.

Mr. Portillo

The information requested is given in the table:

Income support benefil rales—as a percentage of average earnings
As percentage of average net earnings: All males As percentage of average net earnings. All manual male workers
Single Person
age 16–17 11.1 13.3
age 18–24 15.0 17.8
age 25 and over 19.2 22.8
Married couple 28.4 33.5
Married couple with two children aged 4 and 6 37.3 43.4
One parent family with one child aged 4
aged 16.17 21.2 24.9
aged 18 and over 28.7 33.6
Pensioner couple aged 65 37.4 44.1
Pensioner couple aged 65 in receipt of Higher Pensioner Premium 38.7 45.7
Disabled person entitled to disability premium 26.7 31.7

Notes:

1. Net average earnings are taken to be provisional gross average earnings less tax and National Insurance contributions at the non-contracted out rate, plus child benefit where appropriate.

2. The calculations for one parent families incorporate the additional personal tax allowance in respect of a one parent family.