HC Deb 15 March 1945 vol 409 c384
65. Colonel Burton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any estimate of the proportion of the family allowances which will be returnable to the Exchequer by way of income tax.

Sir J. Anderson

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave on 14th March to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for the English Universities (Miss Rathbone).

Miss Rathbone

Will my right hon. Friend be able to give some estimates based on the assumption that the Income Tax rate is as at present, and the incidence of Income Tax on the various levels of Income Tax payers is distributed roughly as at present?

Sir J. Anderson

Under the law as it stands these allowances are taxable income, and it seemed to me that, by leaving the position as it is and by refraining from adjusting the existing children's allowances under the Income Tax law, we would be giving the maximum benefit to those who need it most. I would only add that this question is of no significance to anyone whose income does not exceed £6 a week.