§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the value of supplementary benefits/income support received each year since 1979 by a unemployed husband aged 30 years, wife aged 29 years, and children aged five and 11 years, excluding benefit in respect of housing costs, assuming they were in good health and did not require any special diet, did not need extra baths and did not wear out their clothing unusually quickly, did not require extra laundry facilities, and had accommodation of average size and condition for such a family, assuming they were not in receipt of any other social security benefits other than unemployment benefit; and if he will give the figures both at current prices and at constant 1990 prices.
§ Mrs. Gillian Shephard[holding answer 28 June 1990]: The information requested is shown in the tables, with two separate measures of the real value of the benefit. In table A the benefit rates at each uprating date are revalued to April 1990. In table B the real value of benefit has been averaged over the whole period during which the relevant benefit rates applied.
Table A Uprating Date Actual Rates Actual Rates in 1990 Prices1 12 November 1979 43.65 82.86 24 November 1980 52.80 86.92 23 November 1981 57.55 84.61 22 November 1982 63.60 88.00 21 November 1983 66.35 87.84 26 November 1984 69.50 88.61 25 November 1985 73.05 88.80 28 July 1986 73.90 88.55 6 April 1987 75.35 87.57 11 April 1988 84.45 94.58 10 April 1989 90.40 96.13 9 April 1990 95.55 95.55
168W
Table A Scale Rate Actual rates single householder aged 201 Actual rates in April 1990 prices Percentage change Actual rates single non-householder aged 201 Actual rates in April 1990 prices Percentage change Actual rates couple aged over 251 Actual rates in April 1990 prices Percentage change 12 November 1979 Basic 18.30 34.74 — 14.65 27.81 — 29.70 56.38 — Long Term 23.70 44.99 — 18.95 35.97 — 37.65 71.47 — 24 November 1980 Basic 21.30 35.06 0.9 17.05 28.07 0.9 34.60 56.96 1.0 Long Term 27.15 44.69 -0.7 21.70 35.72 -0.7 43.45 71.53 0.1 22 November 1981 Basic 23.25 34.18 -2.5 18.60 27.35 -2.6 37.75 55.50 -2.6 Long Term 29.60 43.52 -2.6 23.65 34.77 -2.7 47.35 69.62 -2.7 22 November 1982 Basic 25.70 35.56 4.0 20.55 28.43 4.0 41.70 57.70 4.0 Long Term 32.70 45.25 4.0 26.15 36.18 4.1 52.30 72.37 4.0 21 November 1983 Basic 26.80 35.48 0.2 21.45 28.40 -0.1 43.50 57.59 -0.2 Long Term 34.10 45.14 -0.2 27.25 36.08 -0.3 54.55 72.22 -0.2 1 Constant April 1990 prices at dates shown.
2 The figures reflect the fact that the RPI is the appropriate index until 1983 and thereafter the RPI less housing costs is appropriate (from November 1983 onwards).
Table B Period Actual rates £ Actual rates in 1990 prices1 £ November 1978 to October 1979 37.10 77.12 November 1979 to October 1980 43.65 76.61 November 1980 to October 1981 52.80 82.40 November 1981 to October 1982 57.55 81.85 November 1982 to October 1983 63.60 86.43 November 1983 to October 1984 66.35 86.27 November 1984 to October 1985 69.50 86.31 November 1985 to June 1986 73.05 88.13 July 1986 to March 1987 73.90 87.45 April 1987 to March 1988 75.35 86.54 April 1988 to March 1989 84.45 92.70 April 1989 to March 1990 90.40 94.08 1 Average of constant April 1990 prices in the periods shown. Note:
The figures reflect that the retail prices index is the appropriate index until 1983 and thereafter retail prices index less housing costs is appropriate (from November 1983 onwards).