HC Deb 15 July 1992 vol 211 cc800-1W
Ms. Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing the value of unemployment benefit for a couple with two children aged under 11 years in relation to prices and earnings since 1976.

Mr. Burt

The information is in the table.

Date Total Unemployment Benefit Unemployment Benefit1 at April 1992 Prices3 Benefit as a percentage of gross average earnings4
£ £
November 1976 27.50 90.82 36.0
April 19775 26.50 80.48 33.7
November 1977 30.30 88.53 36.3
April 1978 28.20 79.35 31.6
November 1978 29.20 78.96 30.5
April 1979 27.20 69.53 26.8
November 1979 33.35 76.83 29.2
November 1980 35.90 71.72 26.6
November 1981 38.00 67.80 25.4
November 1982 41.05 68.93 25.6
November 1983 44.05 70.55 25.6
November 19842 46.00 70.20 24.5
November 1985 49.25 71.27 24.7
July 1986 49.80 70.88 23.6
April 1987 50.85 69.33 22.7
April 1988 52.95 69.47 21.5
April 1989 56.10 68.12 20.8
April 1990 60.40 67.01 20.4
April 1991 66.95 69.82 21.0
April 1992 69.70 69.70 20.7
1 Over 70 per cent of those registered as unemployed receive income support.
2 Child dependency additions were abolished from 26 November 1984.
3 Benefit has been calculated at April 1992 prices for comparison.

4 Gross average weekly earnings are those of adult males for all occupations (new earnings survey) for the month in question.

5Child dependency addition for the eldest child was adjusted to take account of child benefit.

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