§ 18. Miss Herbisonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise the level below which a retired person is exempt from Income Tax, in order to take into account the proposed increase in retirement pensions.
§ Sir E. BoyleI have noted the hon. Lady's suggestion but I cannot anticipate my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget statement.
§ Miss HerbisonIs the Minister aware that many of the people who are at present exempt from Income Tax are men and women who paid into superannuation schemes with the expectation that they would have enough on which to live comfortably but they are now finding that, with the devaluation of money, they are very badly off? Since the Minister has already announced that he is to raise the allowances for dependants, infirm and old people, surely this is something which could have been announced today?
§ Sir E. BoyleI certainly agree with the hon. Lady to the extent that I think that this is just the sort of matter that we should consider along with very many other matters of an analogous kind before next year's Finance Bill.