26. Mrs. Butlerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the particular Income Tax problems of men in the 65–70 years age group; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir E. BoyleIf the hon. Lady will let me know the precise problems she has in mind, I will gladly consider her representations. But I could not, in any event, anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.
Mrs. ButlerDoes the Financial Secretary realise that for men in this age group who continue working tax can be as high as 8s. 4d. in the £ when they earn £6 17s. 6d. a week, which is 42 per cent. of the wage earned? This largely nullifies the value of their going out to work to provide themselves with extra food and comfort to what they can get on their pensions. Will the hon. Gentleman look at this problem with the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance to see whether an improvement can be effected?
§ Sir E. BoyleI thought that the hon. Lady had in mind the position of men who postpone retirement beyond 65 and continue in regular employment for at any rate part of the next five years. I assure the hon. Lady that these problems are very much in our minds, but I am equally certain that she will not expect me to make any further statement now.