§ 6. Mr. Dempseyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, having regard to the fact that incomes have approximately trebled since the pre-war days, in order to meet a much higher cost of living, he will increase the Income Tax allowance for married couples to a proportionate level and, at the same time, give effect to proportionate increases for unmarried persons.
§ Sir E. BoyleMy right hon. Friend has noted the hon. Member's suggestion.
§ Mr. DempseyDoes the Minister realise that these categories of Income Tax payers have been bearing an undue proportion of Income Tax contribution for a very long time? Does not he think that these allowances should be brought to a realistic level? Does not he realise that by doing so he would earn the gratitude of all?
§ Sir E. BoyleI hope that the hon. Gentleman will not forget that even to raise the married man's allowance by £20 and the single man's allowance by £10 would cost £78 million in a full year, so the hon. Gentleman's proposal to increase the married man's allowance from £240 to £540 a year would be rather an expensive operation.