HC Deb 22 May 1990 vol 173 cc131-2W
Mr. William Powell

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish in theOfficial Report the number of people presently receiving and the estimated

Year Gross average weekly earnings + family allowance/child benefit £ Net income after deducting tax and NI contribution £ Standard rate of unemployment benefit + family allowance/child benefit £ Net income as percentage of earnings + family allowance/ child benefit Per cent. Benefit as percentage of net income Per cent.
(a) Married couple with 2 children
October 1972 40.60 32.50 15.10 80.0 46.5
November 1982 172.30 124.20 52.75 72.1 42.5
April 1987 238.50 177.50 65.35 74.4 36.8
April 1989 284.00 213.40 70.60 75.1 33.1
(b) Single person (family allowance/child benefit does not apply)
October 1972 39.70 28.80 6.75 72.5 23.4
November 1982 160.60 107.40 25.00 66.9 23.3
April 1987 224.00 155.90 31.45 69.6 20.2
April 1989 269.50 191.30 34.70 71.0 18.1

Note: Figures taken from the Abstract of Statistics for Index of Retail Prices Average Earnings Social Security Benefits and Contributions, Table 6.1b, except for revised figures for April 1989, which will be published in August 1990.

cost to each local authority in Northamptonshire of (a) housing benefit and (b) income support and housing benefit; and what comparable figures he has for 12 months ago.

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Information for the current financial year is not comparable with 1989–90 because rate rebates in housing benefit have been replaced by community charge benefit. A count of the numbers receiving benefits on 31 May 1990 will be taken by local authorities with the result becoming available later in the summer. The local authority initial estimates of 1990–91 total expenditure on housing benefit and community charge benefit are in the table. I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 5 March at col.527 which gave information for 1989–90.

Housing benefit and community charge benefit Local authority initial expenditure estimates 1990–91
£ million
Corby n/a
Daventry 3.8
East Northampton 4.0
Kettering 6.1
Northampton 15.2
South Northants 2.7
Wellingborough 6.2