§ 12. Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to his Department of the increase in the age allowance for the last financial year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. BowdenDoes my hon. Friend accept that increases in the age allowance are an excellent way of helping millions of pensioners? Will he urge the Chancellor to ensure in next April's Budget that the age allowance is increased at least in line with personal allowances?
§ Mr. MooreMy hon. Friend has a long and successful record of trying to ensure real increases for the elderly, especially pensioners, so he will be pleased to hear me 1008 remind the House that since 1978–79 we have increased the threshold for the elderly by 10 per cent. in real terms. The threshold for an elderly married couple is the highest in real terms since the second world war. That is in startling contrast to the position under the Labour Government, when the tax threshold for the elderly fell in real terms.